Pope Making Amends

The Pope has been making a concerted effort to undue the damage done when he quoted from the 15th century Byzantine ruler (see this Star Tribune article about the emperor) about the violence of Islam:

Pope Benedict XVI told Muslim diplomats Monday that ''our future'' depends on good relations between followers of both faiths as he sought to put to rest anger over his recent remarks about Islam and violence.

The pontiff also quoted from his predecessor, John Paul II, who had close relations with the Muslim world, calling for ''reciprocity in all fields,'' including religious freedom. Benedict spoke in French to a roomful of diplomats from 21 countries and the Arab League in his summer residence in Castel Gandolfo near Rome.

After his five-minute speech, in a salon in the papal palace in the Alban Hills, Benedict, greeted each envoy one by one. He clasped their hands warmly and chatted for a few moments with each of the diplomats...

This tells me that he really didn't have a grasp on the possible implications of papal comments. Being the Pope is not the same as being the man behind the Pope in charge of interpreting Catholic Doctrine. He is operating in an entirely different league now.