I am really skeptical (sp?) about the Vatican and the church in general, but having said that I absolutely adored Jean Paul. I was dissapointed to learn that Razinger would be the new Pope, but everything happens for a reason.

About his comments, I have been thinking about it for the last few days. Yes he meant to say what he said. But I do not think he purposely meant to offend. No one can deny Islam glorious past in the middle ages, not only it did not bring evil, but brought enlightment and progress. But today it would seem a different matter. I think his words should have been: Show me what Islam is bringing today that is not evil. It would have been a great chance for muslims to show to the catholic world that it can still bring enlightment and progress as well as it did centuries ago.