"to bring his voice into one of the world's most critical showdowns: Islam's internal struggles between moderates and extremists."
Can you please tell me where this internal struggle is going on, because I have not seen it?
I have seen every form of Muslim, from so-called moderate to the most radical, repeat the exact same morally relative excuses for every from of Muslim terrorism, Muslim xenophobia, Muslim violence, Muslim religious intolerance across the world.
If there are any real moderates they are cowed into silence in even the most "moderate" Muslim society.
When the Muslims in every Muslim society are out in the streets protesting againt Muslim terrorism in Iraq, Afghanistan, Palestine, Kashmir, the Philippines and every where else, then maybe we can say there Muslim moderates. They do not even march against terrorism here, in the USA where they have so much freedom.
That's mostly the writer's interpretation of the situation. I think are there, but I think they are few and far between, and their voice ineffectual, drowned out by the fanatics. I guess if the Pope, or our political leaders, believe there are viable moderates in the Muslim world, it might be in the hope that there is a last-ditch effort to avoid what has to be considered a potentetially horrific conflict.
I am not a Catholic, but I keep Pope Benedict in my prayers, that God will help him, guide him and give him the strenghth he needs to bear the great burden that has been put on his shoulders.