Pope and Saudi king to hold talks

Pope and Saudi king to hold talks

news.bbc.co.uk

In September last year, the pontiff incurred the wrath of many Muslims around the world for comments associating Islam with violence.

He later apologised and made efforts to reach out to other religions.

Last month, 138 Muslim religious leaders wrote to the Pope, stressing that the time for polite ecumenical dialogue had passed, with religious violence on the rise, and saying that the common future of the two faiths was at stake.

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Speech From Pope Outrages Muslim Leaders

The story also says that the Saudi King will also be meeting with Italian officials. However all eyes will be on the meeting the the Pope. There are one million two hundred thousand Christians in Arabia who are not allowed to worship in public. That is what is believed to be the topic of there discussion. It is my opinion that even if the king changes the law I doubt there will be much change for the Christians in Arabia.

news.bbc.co.uk
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RedGolem thanks for posting this interesting topic.
For some reason despite the fact I think the meeting between King Abdullah and the Pope will be nothing more then a photo opportunity I am still taking an interest in the event.

reply to post by xpert11


Xpert
Thanks for the comment. I do think it will be an interesting event also, just because it is the first time something like this has happened. One can always say that meetings between dignitaries is nothing more then a photo opportunity, although are photo opportunities something the Saudi king does sometimes do?

Well I guess that even Abdullah has to play the political game when he is overseas and who knows what internal politics take place amongst the Saudi royal family .

Fanaticism and extremism cannot grow on an earth whose soil is embedded in the spirit of tolerance, moderation, and balance. Good governance can eliminate injustice, destitution and poverty."

source

Now there is quote from Abdullah. That quote seem to go against his own rule .
What exactly is moderate about his regime ?
I guess a lot depends on your perceptive Abdullah may think he has a moderate stance because he doesn't throw Christians into concentration camps .

Really if a US politician made that kind of comment they would be labelled an evil commie or socialist.

reply to post by xpert11


Xpert,
true the internal politics could be doing anything in Arabia, I could not even make a guess about that. However the quote you posted to me sounded like good words. I don't see why some one would be labeled an extremist by saying those words. When something is good or right, it should not matter who says them. Or that is at least how I see it.

reply to post by RedGolem



Just look at how the American right treated people who opposed comments about who those who opposed the Iraq and other such matters and you will understand where I am coming from. But alas I am going off topic.

I agree that it is a good quote but that wasn't my point my point was that what Abdullah said goes against the very things that his regime practices.

reply to post by xpert11


Xpert,
yes that is very correct. And perhaps this meeting with the pope might change a little bit of that. However I don't really think any of that will change just yet. Am a little disappointed but that is still what I think at this point.

Well think that if anything good comes from the meeting then a second meeting will be arranged and the two leaders will knuckle down at a later date. They could look to jointly further isolated Islamic extremists from the notion of faith that they both rely on. But I don't consider either leader as having the creditability or track record to be able to do such a thing .

reply to post by xpert11


Xpert
On that one I do think I will have to agree with you. But there is that possibllity that something good will happen.