THIS TIME THE POPE WILL LEAD THE REFORMATION:

Pope Adopts Tough Talk With Muslims: When Pope Benedict XVI met with Muslim leaders in Germany on Aug. 20, he stuck to one issue and gave it a name -- terrorism. (RNS, 8/26/05)

In his historic 2001 visit to Syria, the late John Paul II became the first pope to visit a mosque, where he stressed the common heritage of Christianity and Islam and highlighted the prominence of the Virgin Mary in the Quran.

He also noted a certain "misuse (of) religion itself to promote or justify hatred and violence," but left it undefined.

But when his successor, Pope Benedict XVI, met with Muslim leaders in Germany on Aug. 20, he stuck to one issue and gave it a name -- terrorism.

With a challenge to Muslim leaders to reject and condemn "any connection between your faith and terrorism," Benedict has subtly redefined Vatican relations with Islam, departing from the conciliatory overtures of his predecessor to forge an approach that presses for reform.

The shift, observers say, reflects a growing desire among Vatican officials for the Catholic Church to reassert itself after two decades of dovish dialogue under John Paul II.

Conciliation will be even easier once Islam is Reformed.

Posted by Orrin Judd at August 26, 2005 3:08 PM