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The Holy See and Islam: the diplomatic dance continues

diplomatic maneuvering between the Holy See and Muslim leaders has taken several striking turns in recent weeks, the Vatican’s strategic purpose in this conversation has been clear since Pope Benedict XVI’s 2006 Christmas address to the Roman Curia. There, while reflecting on his September 2006 Regensburg Lecture and his December 2006 visit to Turkey, the pope suggested that the church’s future dialogue with Islam should focus on the positive achievements of the Enlightenment, especially religious freedom understood as a basic human right and the separation of religious and political authority in a justly governed state. Regensburg and the Curial address set off a kind of inter-religious chain reaction.

Tickets for papal events available on Feb. 6

If you want to see Pope Benedict XVI celebrate Mass in Washington or New York during his April 15-20 visit to the United States, you’ll want to be at your computer keyboard at 9 a.m. on Feb. 6. That’s when the Archdiocese of Baltimore will open its Web site for online ticket requests for the two historic events.

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