On 20.09.2006, His holiness Grand Ayatollah Makarem Shirazi invited Pope to a scientific and logical debate and added: The debate could be in a live broadcast at any time and place with no restriction. I am sure that at the end of debate, people in the world will judge that Islam is a herald of peace, amity and truce, and Jihad is a defensive shield against the enemies, but not for imposition of belief and idea.

In his Kharej Fiqh lesson in the seminary on the occasion of end of course before the blessed month of Ramadan, His holiness expressed: Many Christians are living with Moslems from centuries ago, and it is never heard that one is obliged to convert to Islam.

Then, he added: Pope’s hard-bitten utterances are the clear instance of spreading violence throughout the world. Unfortunately, it endangered the peaceful coexistence between Moslems and Christians, while at present, we need invitation to peace, security and truce more than ever.

His holiness called all esteemed seminary students and preachers to explain for people the pacific attitudes of Islam according to the Quranic verses and Islamic narrations.