My take is that officially the Church sees Islam as a false religion.
My evidence:
There is no Saint Muhammad, and his ‘revelation’ is not a certified miracle.
For Muhammad’s visions to not be declared a miracle by the church some or all of the following have to be true.
- The Church never got around to looking into these events (not possible)
- The Church found that supernatural visitation did not happen (Muhammad made it up or dreamed it)
- The Church found that the visions were supernatural but not Devine because they are in direct conflict with the true teachings of God (satan involved)
To put is plainly, if the Church’s official position was that the one true God spoke directly to Muhammad, then we would have a St. Muhammad.
Yeah, but they have to be careful how they say it (or heads will quite literally roll).
So such kind comments towards Islamic people themselves as have been highlighted should be seen in wider context...
I don't know that the way several successive popes in a row have spoken towards Muslims is altogether wrong. There is much to be consider.
One thing I do know...that even as there are a great many Muslims who can be easily agitated & stirred up, those fields are also ripe to the harvest. 'Trouble is...one has to be very careful how they go about scything, for there are some hard stony places that can set off sparks when hit, starting fires that burn in bad ways...