European Union countries should take “very seriously” the threat to Pope Benedict after his comments on Islam sparked outrage in the Muslim world, the EU’s top security official said yesterday. “(It) is not only a threat to Rome and to Italian territory, it is a threat against humanity, not only Christianity, for which the symbolic person is the Pope,” said Justice and Security Commissioner Franco Frattini. He was speaking after addressing European interior and justice ministers meeting in Finland. He did not specify the nature of the threat.

Muslims worldwide have been angered by remarks the Pope made in a lecture last week which they say portrayed Islam as a religion tainted by violence and irrationality.

Benedict has said he is deeply sorry Muslims have been offended by his use of a mediaeval quotation on Islam and holy war, but has stopped short of retracting his comments.