Wednesday, Dec. 07, 2011
Pope Benedict
A quarter-century after his predecessor, John Paul II, established the World Day of Prayer for Peace, Pope Benedict returned to Assisi on Oct. 27 for an interfaith gathering with 300 leaders. In his address, Benedict apologized for Christians' use of violence throughout history in growing their faith, including holy wars, inquisitions and crusades. "We acknowledge it with great shame. But it is utterly clear that this was an abuse of the Christian faith, one that evidently contradicts its true nature," he said, in one of the few instances when a sitting Pope has acknowledged and apologized for such behavior.