Islam Influences Debate on Pope Successor

Relations with Islam - and who is best equipped to handle the delicate questions - is emerging as one of the factors that will shape the decision of the cardinals when they gather this month to pick the 265th pontiff. During the late pope's historic trip to Syria, he silently listened as Syria's President Bashar Assad denounced Jews for trying to "kill the principles of all religions." The Vatican refused to comment on the diatribe, apparently concerned any reaction would upset years of carefully crafted relations with the Muslim world.
Source Article: AP European News