offense given
A vatican first, an apology from the Pope.
Still the violence incited by the Pope’s quotation of an ancient and derogatory reference to Mohammad continues to swell. News of the apology was frontline news in the so-called Western world, but did little to quell the passion of those offended.
Perhaps the nature of the apology bears review. The pope said that he was “deeply sorry” for the reaction to his speech, that it had been misunderstood. The official Vatican statement read similarly, that he “regretted that his speech on Islam offended Muslims”.
The apology was sincere and thoughtful, but did not acknowledge offense given. He did not express regret for his speech, but rather for the reception it received. In a world of competing cultures and languages, it is no surprise that often our words are given meaning unintended and offense is taken where none was intended. For this the pope is sincerely sorry. His apology was for offense taken.
The stinging denouncement of Muhammad that was quoted by the pope, however, was offense given. This was a quote that was unnecessary in the speech, inflammatory in nature, and should have been edited out of the speech long before the pope boarded the plane for Germany. Assuming that the quotation was, as the vatican insists, not intended to offend, he made a mistake. A big one.
We make mistakes in life. We give and take offense. The mark of leadership is not perfection but acceptance of responsibility. And an apology for offense given is not too much to ask.