TEHRAN - The Iranian Foreign Ministry summoned the Vatican ambassador to Tehran on Sunday to convey Iran’s strong protest and deep concern over Pope Benedict XVI’s remarks about Islam.

“We don’t expect the Pope, as a spiritual and religious leader, to repeat, on the anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, what (U.S. President George W.) Bush utters,” Foreign Ministry Director for Western European Affairs Ebrahim Rahimpur told Apostolic Nuncio to Iran Archbishop Angelo Mottola.

“The Pope advocates dialogue among religions and cultures and respect for the beliefs and sanctities of other religions, but he has talked and acted in a contradictory manner,” he added.

Rahimpur stated, “The Pope has partially recounted a historical conversation without the slightest reference to the Persian interlocutor’s response to the Byzantine emperor. That is an indirect distortion of history meant to harm Islam. “The Pope has to be more aware of his religious and political responsibilities.”

The Pope’s speech hurt the sentiments of Muslims and raised concerns in the Islamic world, he said, adding that this can only be amended by “the Pope apologizing personally”.

Archbishop Mottola said that the Pope did not intend to insult, but actually wanted to emphasize peaceful interactions among cultures, religions, and civilizations.

“The Pope believes in inter-religious and inter-cultural dialogue and the Vatican’s policy has not changed at all,” the ambassador added.

Mottola said he regretted the situation and stressed that the Pope’s remarks on Sunday were intended to resolve the issue.