Although I disagreed with John Paul II's handling of the sex abuse crisis and his interpretation of the nature of sexuality, I think his intention to dialogue with Muslims was spot on. About Catholic-Muslim relations, he said: "We believe in the same God, the one God, the Living God who created the world … In a world which desires unity and peace, but experiences a thousand tensions and conflicts, should not believers come together?"

He called 9/11 "a tragedy for all humanity, a defeat for every authentic religious spirit." That includes Islam.