Here are some teachings from the Popes before the Second Vatican Council about Islam:
“I vow to… exalt the true Faith, and to extirpate the diabolical sect of the reprobate and faithless Mahomet (Islam) in the east.” – Pope Callixtus III
“… there is hope that very many from the abominable sect of Mahomet will be converted to the Catholic Faith.” – Pope Eugene IV
“Turn the anger of the Almighty against the godless Turks and Barbarians who despise Christ the Lord” – Pope Pius II
“In the royal city of the east, they have slain the successor of Constantine and his people, desecrated the temples of the Lord, defiled the noble church of Justinian with their Mohometan abominations. Each success, will only be a stepping stone until he has mastered all the Western Monarchs, overthrow the Christian Faith, and imposed the law of his false prophet on the whole world” – Pope Pius II
“They are to forbid expressly the public invocation of the sacrilegious name of Mohomet …” – Pope Clement V
“… the Turks and other infidels … They treat the way of true light and salvation with complete contempt and totally unyielding blindess …” – Pope Leo X
“It decreed most solemnly in its third canon, among other matters, as you know, that Turkish or Mohammedan names should not be given either to children or adults in baptism. It also decreed that the faithful of Christ should not allow themselves to be called by Turkish or Mohammedan names which they had never received, for the purpose of either exemption or immunity from taxes, or the advantage of free trading, or avoiding penalties.” – Pope Benedict XIV
Here are some teachings from the Popes after the Second Vatican Council about Islam:
“My visit to Turkey afforded me the opportunity to show also publicly my respect for the Islamic religion, a respect, moreover, which the Second Vatican Council (Nostra Aetate) pointed out …” – Pope Benedict XVI
“… Nostra Aetate, which as ushered in a new season of dialogue and spiritual solidarity between Jews and Christians, as well as esteem for the other great religious traditions. Islam occupies a special place among them.” – Pope Benedict XVI
“… my personal view of the Qur’an, for which I have the respect due to the holy book of a great religion.” – Pope Benedixt XVI
“The believer – and all of us, us Christians and Muslims, are believers … You guide Muslim believers and train them in the Islamic faith …” – Pope Benedict XVI
“I thus had the favorable opportunity to renew my sentiments of esteem for the Muslims and for the Islamic civilizations.” – Pope Benedixt XVI
“I thank those who are developing Islamic culture …” – Pope John Paul II
“Live your faith also in a foreign land …” – Pope John Paul II
“May Saint John the Baptist protect Islam and all the people of Jordan …” – Pope John Paul II
“We would also like you to know that the Church recognizes the riches of the Islamic faith – a faith that binds us to the one God.” – Pope Paul VI
“Twenty-two martyrs were recognized, but there were many more, and not only Catholics. There were also Anglicans and some Mohammedans.” – Pope Paul VI
“… Our high respect for the faith you profess … We gladly recall also those confessors of the Moslem faith …” – Pope Paul VI
My Comment
Even they may think about political relationship, but I would like to think they are sincere.
In Quran, 5:82, Allah have differentiate between Christian, Jews and isolator clearly:
You will surely find the most intense of the people in animosity toward the believers [to be] the Jews and those who associate others with Allah ; and you will find the nearest of them in affection to the believers those who say, “We are Christians.” That is because among them are priests and monks and because they are not arrogant. (Quran 5:82)
Actually, even I critic a lot about Christianity, there are some Christian are very generous, kind and not arrogant. Sometime, I myself feel ashamed because they are better than me in term of manner, etc.
