"The emperor comes to speak about the issue of jihad, holy war," the pope said. "He said, I quote, 'Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached.' "
"The emperor goes on to explain in detail the reasons why spreading the faith through violence is something unreasonable," Benedict said.
"Violence is incompatible with the nature of God and the nature of the soul," the pope said, issuing an open invitation to dialogue among cultures.
Source: CNN.com
The response among Muslims, who maintain that jihad is nothing more than a metaphor for the internal spiritual struggle to overcome sin and live a better life, was to take to the streets in rage and commit acts of violence, including burning Christian churches.
Sources: Michelle Malkin, Gateway Pundit, NY Times
The government of Pakistan even chimed in with official condemnation of the Pope's remarks and a Turkish politician compared Benedict to Hitler.
Source: My Way News Here and Here
But, as is often the case, the story is told better with pictures.
Never in the history of the Byzantine Empire were the words of an emperor proven right more quickly.
UPDATE:
To his shame the Pope has apologized for speaking the truth.
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