'God's Rottweiler's' First Crisis

ROME, Sept. 19, 2006 -- -- Pope Benedict the XVI faces his first major crisis as leader of the world's 1.1 billion Catholics. His comments about Islam on Sept. 12 have sowed widespread anger across the Muslim world, and there are growing fears, in some circles of the church hierarchy, that Pope Benedict's words may have thrown back relations with Muslims by a quarter of a century.

Up until now it has been difficult to make comparisons between Benedict and his charismatic and immensely popular predecessor, John Paul II. But with the crises growing, Benedict is being harshly criticized for destroying the goodwill John Paul built during his 27 year papacy.

Author and longtime Vatican watcher Marco Politi wrote in Rome's La Repubblica that John Paul "was respected and listened to by the Muslim world as a spiritual leader."

It has been noted that John Paul traveled to several Muslim countries, and that during his long papacy his door was always open to Muslim leaders, and they in turn made numerous visits.

And crucially, John Paul II was the first Pope to visit a mosque.

Pope Benedict, nicknamed "God's Rottweiler" because of his conservative views, staked out a much harder line right from the beginning.

In Germany last August, he challenged Muslim leaders in the city of Cologne to condemn any link between "your faith and terrorism".

Benedict has also protested against the treatment of Christians in Muslim countries. He has called on governments in the Islamic world to allow Christians the same freedoms to practice their faith that Muslims are afforded in the West.

Those statements did not result in any widespread negative reaction. However, it is clear that Pope Benedict's recent speech has hit a nerve. Quoting a 14th century Christian emperor who called Islam "evil" and "inhuman," he has opened a raw wound.

Pope Benedict moved swiftly to assure Muslims that the quote does not in any way reflect his own views. He even publicly stated that he was "deeply sorry" that the words offended Muslims. It was an unprecedented papal apology, and it did help to deflect some of the anger. But anger does remain, along with deep suspicion.