“The statements run contrary to the position and responsibilities of the leader of one of the divine religions,” Hosseini said in a statement.
Advocating wrong ideas about the common source of religion and faith, which is derived from human beings’ divine nature, is a big mistake, he stated.
In a speech on Tuesday, the Pope criticized Prophet Muhammad (S) by quoting the 14th century Byzantine Emperor Manuel II Palaeologus, who equated the propagation of Islam with violence.
“At this time, all faithful followers of different divine religions are concerned about deliberate and biased religious propaganda,” Hosseini added.
Unfortunately, there are currently more efforts to tarnish the image of Islam and Muslims than at any other time, he noted.
In the current climate, expressing such views is suspicious and supportive of the goals of international warmongers and could lead to a clash of religions fabricated to serve political purposes, he said.
The Foreign Ministry spokesman also emphasized the need to respect the values and sanctities of all divine religions.
“To avoid enflaming the religious sentiments of Muslims, I advise a quick review and correction of the statements to eliminate animosity and to promote ties between divine religions in a peaceful atmosphere,” he added.
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MNA