Turks have today demanded Pope Benedict XVI make amends over comments on Islam that enraged Muslims before visiting the predominantly Muslim country in November.

The top Muslim clergyman in the Palestinian territories today demanded Pope Benedict XVI offer a “clear apology” for remarks about Islam that ignited protests across the Muslim world.

Pope Benedict XVI’s expression of regret following his remarks on Islam and violence is acceptable, but the pontiff should avoid making future comments that could offend Muslims, Malaysia’s prime minister has said.

The papal trip to predominantly Muslim Turkey in late November could provide an opportunity to support dialogue and friendship between religions and people to help defuse the anger in the Islamic world triggered by remarks of Pope Benedict XVI on Islam and violence.

Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has said he respects Pope Benedict XVI, apparently downplaying the pontiff’s remarks on Islam and holy war.

Catholic bishops met in Istanbul today and decided the Pope’s visit to Turkey in November should go ahead despite anger in the Islamic world over his comments about Islam and holy war, Vatican spokesman George Marovic said.

Sister Leonella, a nun who devoted her life to helping the sick in volatile regions of Africa, used to joke that there was a bullet with her name engraved on it in Somalia. When the bullet came, she used her last breaths to forgive those responsible.

Islamic countries today asked the UN Human Rights Council to examine the question of religious tolerance, saying that Pope Benedict’s remarks on Islam threaten to alienate Muslims from the West.

Catholic bishops met in Istanbul this morning to discuss the pope’s upcoming visit to Turkey amid an uproar in the Islamic world over his comments about Islam and holy war.

Gunmen killed an Italian nun and her bodyguard at the entrance of a hospital where she worked in Somalia, in an attack some feared could be linked to Muslim outrage over the Pope’s recent remarks about Islam, officials said today.

The Archbishop of Dublin Diarmuid Martin has said he believes the Pope never intended to offend people with last week’s speech.

Muslim leaders in the Middle East today demanded further apologies from Pope Benedict XVI for controversial remarks about Islam, as attacks on Christian churches continued in the West Bank.

Pope Benedict XVI today said he was “deeply sorry” about the angry reaction sparked by his speech about Islam and holy war.

An Iraqi insurgent group has threatened the Vatican with a suicide attack over the Pope’s remarks on Islam, according to a statement posted on the internet.

Palestinians wielding guns, firebombs and lighter fluid attacked four churches in the West Bank town of Nablus on today, while gunmen opened fire at a fifth in Gaza, following remarks by Pope Benedict XVI that many Muslims view as disparaging.

Pope Benedict XVI is “extremely upset” that Muslims have been offended by some of his words in a recent speech in Germany, the Vatican said today.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has defended remarks on Islam and jihad made by the Pope during his trip to Germany, saying they have “misunderstood” the Pontiff’s message.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel defended remarks on Islam and jihad made by Pope Benedict XVI during his trip to Germany, saying they have “misunderstood” the pontiff’s message.

The Vatican has scrambled to defend the Pope after a top Turkish cleric asked him to apologise for his comments on Islamic holy war.