[Cicero]

I'm sure the Pope is sympathetic. But his first duty is to Catholics and other Christians who live in Islamic country around the world under conditions of low-grade persecution. That's the basic reason why he has avoided offending Muslims when possible. If he spoke out, the persecutions of Christians would only increase, and probably not much good would be accomplished.

Unfortunately the Pope doesn't have much influence on the new European antisemites, who are almost all leftists and are as anticatholic as they are antisemitic.

Ironically, it's the same predicament Pius X faced in regard to defending the Jews too publicly in confrontation with Hitler. He lacked the power to enforce demands, and his moral authority meant nothing to Hitler.

[F16Fighter]

"I'm sure the Pope is sympathetic. But his first duty is to Catholics and other Christians who live in Islamic country around the world under conditions of low-grade persecution."

Ahem -- "Christians" are being slaughtered by Muslims in the Sudan, in Nigeria, and in other equatorial African nations every day with nary a relative whisper of protest from the Pope.

Quite frankly, if this sort of persecution and slaughter were taking place in the Pope's native Poland, Paul and the Vatican would be screaming from the top of their lungs in protestation.