Habemus Papam

Benedict XVI speaks on Islam.

From Time we have:

"This is indeed Benedict doing it on his own terms. Rather than tackling the challenge of fundamentalist terrorism with a pithy remark packaged for the 9/11 anniversary or reaching for a John Paul-inspired sweeping gesture, the professor Pope went digging into his books. He went so far as to quote a 14th century Byzantine emperor´s hostile view of Islam's founder. "The emperor comes to speak about the issue of jihad, holy war," the Pope said. "He said, I quote, 'Show me just what Muhammad brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached.'" Benedict added "I quote" twice to make it clear these were someone Else's words. Nevertheless this reference was undoubtedly the most provocative moment of a provocative lecture. In a sense, explicitly including the Muslim prophet by name, and citing the concept of jihad, was a flashing neon signal to the world that the soft-spoken Pope intends to make himself heard clearly on this defining tension of our times.

It is not the first time he has entered the fray. On his last trip to Germany, to Cologne for Catholic World Youth Day in August 2005, he told a group of Muslims that they have a responsibility to try to halt the violence carried out in the name of their religion. Even earlier on this trip to Bavaria, which ends Thursday, he seemed to refer to Islam's negative view of a Western society that has too little faith, and cited it as the cause for tensions." [snip]

(Gerald from The Cafeteria is Closed has an interesting post on the Holy Father's speech as well. Don't miss his great photo's of the Pope's visit to Barvaria either.)

It seems to me those in authority, including Bush, are now calling a spade a spade when it comes to Islamic fundamentalism. It's about time. AND - the reason Islam can make such headway into Western culture is indeed our lack of faith and morality, our rejection of God for secularist materialism. We better repent. Maybe our Holy Father will call for a Rosary crusade after all.

How would one go about petitioning him to do so?