The Vatican launched a diplomatic offensive in Muslim countries to clarify Pope Benedict XVI’s position on Islam following outrage over his remarks linking the religion with violence. As the Holy See’s move to appease Muslim anger got underway, the pope consulted his top diplomatic adviser, Secretary of State Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, in an audience at his summer palace outside Rome. The 79-year-old head of the Roman Catholic Church also held talks with bishops from predominantly Muslim Chad, his first meeting with clergy from a largely Muslim country since a row erupted last week over his remarks linking Islam with violence. The Vatican said the long-scheduled meeting with the six African bishops was part of their customary five-yearly visit to Rome. Bertone earlier told the Italian daily Corriere della Sera in an interview that envoys from the Holy See had been asked to explain the full meaning of Benedict’s speech to political and religious authorities in Muslim countries. He said Vatican ambassadors, or papal nuncios, would highlight passages of the lengthy speech which would help to clarify its true meaning but which had been ignored in the furore. In another move aimed at calming tensions, […]