Christmas, period of deep remembrance of Jesus, brings Christians all over the world to flock into churches for prayer and are offered guidance by the father into the coming year according to the Greek calendar. In so saying, this can make us wonder about the role of the Pope (meaning Father) at the heart of the Christian hierarchy.

The engine of thought, having a whim of resurging good memories first, brings images to our mind of the deceased Pope John Paul II and his unprecedented reign over the Christian Church as Supreme Pontiff. He enjoined both Christians and Muslims from East to west, seeking ?ties of friendship with other believers who invoke the name of a single God? and preached commonality of the world?s great faiths. Though he left this world, he managed to make us catch a tiny glimpse of his extraordinary vision of a rapprochement between the Holy See and Islam. We are then also reminded of the climax of the Pope?s preaching during his Turkish holiday (while news was focusing our attention on an escaped killer, threatening to assassinate the Pontiff) where his big tent approach insisted on maintaining unity or his multi faith approach which united Muslims and Sikhs amongst others to pray for peace ? this was a signature of John Paul?s reign and his lasting commitment to peace and love among mankind.

Unfortunately, the stronger minds also foresee harder days to come. Our current Pope Benedict XVI emerges as a far more compelling, complex and contradictory figure than anyone could have imagined. His ?mission? in Turkey is puzzlement to all ? he publicly supported Turkey?s entry into EU and prayed in Istanbul?s Sultan Ahmet (a.k.a. The Blue) Mosque ? to the great disappointment of his newly established pro-Ratzinger audience and papal watchers. But this move only highlights his master of the fine art of diplomacy at a time where the whole world and the press was monitoring him closely; and the least faux pas would have made him the ?next- worse-after-Bush-and-poodle?(George W Bush and Tony Blair) to the Islam World.

We will recall, during the month of September the burst of controversy that arose following a speech quoting derogatory language about Muhammad and suggesting that Islam was predisposed toward violence ? he had actually quoted a 14th Century Emperor who said the Prophet of Islam had given nothing positive to humanity and had commanded followers to use violence to spread their faith. Theodore Khoury observes for Muslim teaching ?God is absolutely transcendent. His will is not bound up with ?. rationality.?

To establish the connection between his position and violence, Ratzinger quoted Paleologus (Head of Byzantine Church-15th century) who criticized Muslims for ?spreading (their faith) by the sword? and also cited ?show me just what Muhammad brought that was new.? Saying what he thinks is one thing, but trying to mix politics and religion might not be the best course of action for Ratzinger, especially as he embarks on the most important mission of his papacy. His view of ?the Other? is sadly restricted for a man of his stature and background. Based on his speeches, we can only portray him as a man who views Islam as lacking reason and sanity in its very essence (though we should take note that part of the Islamic culture contributed a lot to various branches of scientific thinking and discovery including the Cartesian field of algebra!)

The Pope?s role, personally, should not be axed towards taking sides and trying to influence politics (mainly with regards to Turkey?s role in the EU). Ratzinger surely has the right to express his opinion, but at what cost, if his opinion will only stifle and spread hatred towards Islam. The Pope may have a legitimate goal of igniting the faith of Christians, but it is deeply troubling and potentially dangerous to rekindle this faith by building up a common front against Islam. Even his vision of what Europe should be, lacks open mindedness and is mostly seen as a crusade against ?the Other?.

We can only hope, as put it by Tariq Ramadan that ?the Pope will be able to transform his former perceptions of ?the Other? of Islam into a more open approach? Benedict XVI should be free to express his opinion without risk of impassioned denunciation. But the last one can expect from the Pope especially in this difficult era of fear and suspicion ? is that he help bridge the divide and create new spaces of confidence and trust.?

The Muslim World has laid a lot of expectation, but also has a lot of apprehension concerning the contradictory steps taken by political thinkers, which, if they follow the same trend, can only increase the widening gap between Christians and Muslims. On the other hand, by strongly highlighting the ethical teachings the religions have in common and the means in which they can contribute to the future of a pluralistic Europe might prove more fruitful for both parties and for peace.

Hannah MAUDARBOCUS ([email protected])