German bishops in the house today:

Benedict then spoke about the growing Muslim population of Germany and the necessity of dialogue between the two religions.

Muslims, the Pope said, "who hold to their convictions and their rites [ceremonies] with such seriousness, have the right to our humble and resolute witness to Jesus Christ.  To make that witness credible requires a great commitment, and for this reason it is necessary that in places where there is a large Muslim population, there also be Catholic interlocutors who have the essential knowledge of the language and religious history that makes them capable of engaging in dialogue with Muslims,” he stressed.

But, he added, a full understanding of the truths of the Catholic faith are a pre-requisite for entering into a fruitful dialogue.

The Holy Father also addressed the teaching of religion, Catholic schools, and the formation of Catholic adults.  One key focus of Catholic education should be, he said, "above all, the matter of the curriculum of the teaching of religion so that the entire scholarly journey can transmit the fullness of the Faith and of the life of the Church." 

“In Catholic schools it is fundamental that the introduction to the Catholic view of the world and the practicing of the Faith are not only transmitted during religion classes, but in a convincing way in the daily routine of the scholastic life and by means of the personal testimony of instructors," Benedict said.

Speaking of speaking of Muslims, John Thavis at CNS has a piece on the Regensburg fallout – the conclusion?

Pope Benedict XVI’s remarks on Islam in Regensburg, Germany, opened a new chapter in the Vatican’s 40-year dialogue with the Muslim world and brought the pope’s own views on Islam into clearer focus.

In the controversy that followed his speech, the pope told Muslim leaders there should be no doubt about his commitment to the dialogue launched by the Second Vatican Council or of his "esteem and profound respect" for Muslim believers.

At the same time, the pope is not hesitating to raise some uncomfortable questions about the religious foundations of Islam and its cultural and political influences today.

"It is important that (interreligious) dialogue take place with much patience, much respect and, most of all, in total honesty," the pope wrote several years ago.

For the pope, the honest approach to dialogue with Muslims means not simply talking about the shared belief in one God but also facing sensitive issues like that of violence and religion. Against a backdrop of global tensions, the pope believes that question cannot be ignored and that moderate voices must be heard.