The Pope

Pope Benedict


On 24/3/2008 the English newspaper The Times reported that Pope Benedict XVI had baptised Magdi Allam, 55, an outspoken Egyptian-born critic of Islamic extremism and a supporter of Israel. The move revived memories of the fury that greeted Pope Benedict’s speech at Regensburg University in 2006 in which he branded Islam as inherently violent by quoting a Byzantine emperor. Rather than manipulating every opportunity to attack Islam, the Pope must realize that his real enemy is secularism and not Islam. Retreating behind the veil of ‘freedom of speech’, and ‘freedom of religion’, secularists have relentlessly abused Catholicism and forced the Roman Church to modify its views and practices. Today, Catholic teachings are scarcely recognizable and face imminent extinction, unless the Vatican takes a firm stand against the secular powers.


Under the Khilafah, Catholicism was not forced to change its views, and Christians lived in harmony with Muslims. Hence, it would be wise for Pope Benedict XVI to reconsider his position towards Islam and support the right of Muslims to re-establish the Khilafah. In this way, the pope will not only be saving Catholicism and protecting the rights of his flock in the Muslim world, but it would also send a positive signal for future relations with the Khilafah.