Pope Benedict XVI has added an explanatory note to his controversial remarks on Islam, saying the text provoked misinterpretation and "understandable indignation" among Muslims.

The explanation appeared Oct. 9 in a footnote in the Vatican's online version of the speech on faith and reason given by the pope in Regensburg, Germany, in mid-September.

In his speech, the pope spoke briefly about religion and violence, quoting the 14th-century Byzantine Emperor Manuel II Paleologus, who said: "Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached."

In the new footnote, the pope re-emphasized a point he has made several times since delivering the speech --- that he did not share the emperor's views on Islam.

"In the Muslim world, this quotation has unfortunately been taken as an expression of my personal position, thus arousing understandable indignation," the note said.

"I hope that the reader of my text can see immediately that this sentence does not express my personal view of the Quran, for which I have the respect due to the holy book of a great religion," the pope said.

"In quoting the text of the Emperor Manuel II, I intended solely to draw out the essential relationship between faith and reason. On this point I am in agreement with Manuel II, but without endorsing his polemic," he said.

Part of the text of the papal speech has been retranslated in English and other languages. Originally the text opened the quotation by noting that Emperor Manual spoke "somewhat brusquely" about Islam. That was changed to "with a startling brusqueness, a brusqueness that we find unacceptable."

The pope has several times expressed regret that his words had caused Muslims to take offense, and he convened Muslim representatives and diplomats to offer a personal explanation.

While many Muslim leaders have said they consider the issue closed, other groups have insisted that the pope offer a full apology.

Vatican officials have pointed out that in his original speech the pope had been arguing in favor of religious values in modern cultures --- a position which they say should be welcomed by Muslims.

---CNS