British Embassy reflects on Pope Benedict's speech to diplomats

During his speech to the Diplomatic Corps on Monday, Pope Benedict spoke about religious freedom, and lamented the violence against Christians in many Muslim countries. He appealed to both political authorities and religious authorities to let their fellow-citizens live in security.

“He was trying to look at the world through the prism of religious freedom, and protecting religious freedom as a fundamental human right,” said Justin Bedford, the Deputy Head of Mission at the British Embassy to the Holy See.

The Pope’s words came just days after attacks on Christians in Iraq, Egypt, and Nigeria.

“We see increasingly, where we see [Islamic] extremists are gaining a foothold, attempts to divide those societies through attacks against the Christian minorities in those countries,” he told Vatican Radio.

Mr. Bedford urged caution when asked about requests for the European Union to be more directly involved in the protection of Christians in the Middle East.

“We need to be very careful as to how the West, and the EU as part of the ‘western construct’, approaches the question of religions,” he said.

He added there Is a danger in presenting Christianity as too closely associated with the West.

“That could, if the West took the concept of Christianity under its umbrella, provide a reason for extremists to continue to divide those societies…we would seek to avoid that, if possible,” he said. “If this question is discussed in the EU we would need to find an approach which did not divide societies, but sought to unite them and present solidarity between Christians and Muslims as they confront extremists.”

Listen to the full interview by Charles Collins with Justin Bedford: