I am sure that at the end of debate...

I am sure that at the end of debate, people in the world will judge that Islam is a herald of peace, amity and truce, and Jihad is a defensive shield against the enemies, but not for imposition of belief and idea. In his Kharej Fiqh lesson in the seminary on the occasion of end of course before the blessed month of Ramadan, His holiness expressed: Many Christians are living with Muslims from centuries ago, and it is never heard that one is obliged to convert to Islam.

Then, he added: Pope’s hard-bitten utterances are the clear instance of spreading violence throughout the world. Unfortunately, it endangered the peaceful coexistence between Muslims and Christians, while at present, we need invitation to peace, security and truce more than ever. His holiness called all esteemed seminary students and preachers to explain for people the pacific attitudes of Islam according to the Qur’anic verses and Islamic narrations.

Text of His holiness’s letter to Pope Your Excellency Pope Benedict XVI With greeting, Considering your utterances in Germany rebuking and reproaching Islam and the ruling of Islamic Jihad (Holy War), hurting the feelings of all Muslims, I, as one of the Muslims’ religious authorities, having many followers all around the world, and the writer of more than 130 books in various Islamic sciences, including more than 40 books about commentary of Holy Qur’an, invite you to participate in a scientific and logical debate in a live broadcast with me to discuss about two issues: Does Islam advocate violence or it invites to peace, amity and kindness?

Did Islam spread throughout the world through the force of sword or the extreme logic, reasoning and attraction of Islamic culture? I will be glad to declare that I leave the time and location to you, and do not have any condition for it. I hope you would declare your agreement with this.

Wishing your ever success, Nasser Makarim Shirazi 25.09.2006 Islamic Seminary of Qom Islamic Republic of Iran The invitation letter was sent to Vatican embassy in Tehran in Persian and English, but we have not received any reply yet. The remonstrant letter by representative of Iranian Assyrians to Pope The utterances of Pope Benedict XVI was so illogical and weak that even his impartial and fair coreligionists could not keep silent, and many of them stood against it.