Archbishop defends Pope, sympathizes with Muslims
Mon Sep 18, 2006

LONDON (Reuters) - The head of the world's Anglican church stepped in to defend Pope Benedict on Monday in the face of fury from some Islamic groups about the Roman Catholic leader's use of a medieval quotation on Islam and violence.

Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan William, who is the spiritual leader of 77 million Anglicans worldwide, said Pope Benedict had been right to apologize for the offence caused and said his comments should be taken in context.

"The Pope has already issued an apology and I think his views on this need to be judged against his entire record, where he has spoken very positively about dialogue," Williams said.

Pope Benedict, the head of the world's 1.1 billion Roman Catholics, sparked worldwide Muslim anger last week with comments which were seen as portraying Islam as a religion tainted by violence. the rest