W:September 11, 2001 attacks St. Peter's Square in Vatican City. The Mujahedeen Army, a group of insurgents in Iraq has posted a message on the Internet threatening attacks on Vatican City in Rome, Italy. The Statement The statement is issued to "you dog of Rome" then begins to threaten Rome saying, we will "shake your thrones and break your crosses in your home. Our minds will not rest until we shake your thrones and break your crosses in your home. We swear to God to send you people who adore death as much as you adore life. Rome will be a witness when Muhammad destroys the Vatican. Rome’s cross will be destroyed." Precursor to the Threat The threat comes after Pope Benedict XVI recited verses from a conversation between Byzantine Emperor Manuel II Palaiologos , and a Persian man in the 14th century. The Pope quoted Palaiologos as saying, "show me just what Muhammad 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." Increased Security Because of the threat, security around Pope Benedict has been increased. Statement by the Vatican Secretary of State Secretary of State of the Vatican City, Cardinal Tarcisio said that the Pope apologized for the way his remarks made during a speech at the University of Regensburg in Germany on September 12 2006 were interpreted saying, "the Holy Father is very sorry that some passages of his speech may have appeared offensive to Muslims and were interpreted in a way he hadn't intended them to be. [The speech was supposed to reflect] the relationship between religion and violence in general, and to conclude with a clear and radical rejection of the religious motivation for violence, from whatever side it may come." Note: September 12 2006 was a sensitive date as it was just one day after the 5th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 attacks. Pope’s Apology
 St. Peter's Square in Vatican City. The Mujahedeen Army, a group of insurgents in Iraq has posted a message on the Internet threatening attacks on Vatican City in Rome, Italy. The statement is issued to "you dog of Rome" then begins to threaten Rome saying, we will "shake your thrones and break your crosses in your home. Our minds will not rest until we shake your thrones and break your crosses in your home. We swear to God to send you people who adore death as much as you adore life. Rome will be a witness when Muhammad destroys the Vatican. Rome’s cross will be destroyed." The threat comes after Pope Benedict XVI recited verses from a conversation between Emperor Byzantine Manuel II Palaiologos and a Persian man in the 14th century. The Pope quoted Palaiologos as saying, "show me just what Muhammad 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." Because of the threat, security around Pope Benedict has been increased. Secretary of State of the Vatican City, Cardinal Tarcisio said that the Pope apologized for the way his remarks made during a speech at the University of Regensburg in Germany on September 12 2006 were interpreted saying, "the Holy Father is very sorry that some passages of his speech may have appeared offensive to Muslims and were interpreted in a way he hadn't intended them to be. [The speech was supposed to reflect] the relationship between religion and violence in general, and to conclude with a clear and radical rejection of the religious motivation for violence, from whatever side it may come." 
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W:September 11, 2001 attacks
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Statement
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Precursor to the Threat
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Byzantine Emperor
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Secretary of State of
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Note: September 12 2006 was a sensitive date as it was just one day after the 5th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 attacks.
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Pope’s Apology