Faisalabad (AsiaNews) – In Pakistan Catholic and Muslim scholars and clerics met to study the Pope's Regensburg speech which caused Muslims to protest. The meeting, which took place at the Bishop's residence, is the initiative of the local bishop, Mgr Joseph Coutts, and Fr Aftab James Paul, director of Interfaith Dialogue and Ecumenism for the diocese of Faisalabad. A committee was formed that includes Bishop Coutts himself, two Catholic priests, four ulemas and another Muslim, Pir Muhammad Ibrahim.

In opening the meeting, Mgr Coutts expressed his "joy" to see Muslims and Christians together, but at the same time "sadness" for the overall misunderstanding of what the Pope said in Germany.

"We wanted this meeting," he said, "to clarify with our Muslim brothers the meaning of what the Pope said.

Bishop Coutts reiterated that the controversial statement by Manuel II Palaiologos according to whom "nothing good has come from Islam" was only a quote, not the Pontiff's personal views.

The bishop of Faisalabad then attacked the media for "playing a negative role" in reporting the speech and for not considering "the good relations the Catholic Church has, not only with Muslims, but with all religions".

John Paul II, the prelate said, played an important role in inter-faith dialogue; what "he did cannot come to an end in just a few minutes".

Members of the Muslim community said they appreciated the initiative of the local Church.

For Rana Khalid Mehmood it is necessary to release Mgr Coutts's remarks to the Pakistani press so that "people can understand the real situation".

Pir Muhammad Ibrahim is convinced that it is urgent to proceed logically. First, find the real issue; then, if there are problems clarify them through dialogue with our Christian brothers."

"We have decided to translate the original speech into Urdu so that Muslim clerics can study and better understand it," he added.

For various participants there are elements who want to destroy inter-faith harmony and good relations between Christians and Muslims and for this reason they instigate the crowds.

"For this reason," said Ibrahim, "Christians must explain via the media the real meaning of the Pope's reflections to avoid misunderstandings".

On the Catholic side, Fr Khalid Rasheed mentioned that Benedict XVI closely collaborated with John Paul II in the area of inter-faith dialogue. "His upcoming trip to Turkey is intended to strengthen this process, but there are those who want to undo it".

At the end of the meeting at the Bishop's residence, the participants are scheduled to hold a press conference.