“It’s the Pope who should write us a letter, apologizing”

The regime-run site Roozna wrote: “Ahmadinejad’s letters to world leaders, including diplomats, political figures and religious scholars has met with contention. A letter from the president of Iran to his American counterpart George Bush was said by Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati, secretary of the guardian council, to have been inspired by God but Ahmadinejad’s letter to Pope Benedict XVI, the world Catholic leader was not only unwelcome but also considered a huge mistake by Ayatollah Safi-Golpayegani, former secretary of the guardian council who said that the Pope had insulted all sanctities and that it was his duty to send a letter of apology. This preeminent Marja Taghleed* remarked on the comments made by Pope Benedict XVI last summer calling them derogatory statements against the true religion of Islam. The Iranian president sent his foreign minister, Manouchehr Mottaki to the Vatican to present his letter to the world’s Catholic leader on the eve of Christmas and New Year. The letter’s contents have not as of yet been revealed…”

* Marja Taghleed literally means "Source of Imitation", "Reference of Emulation" or "Source of Tradition" and refers to the second highest authority on religion and law in Twelver Shi’a Islam, after Mohammad and Shi'a Imams. Marjas are accorded the title Grand Ayatollah. This happens when the followers of one of the Ayatollahs refer to him in many situations and ask him to publish his Juristic book in which he answers the vast majority of daily Muslim affairs. The book is called Resalah and contains their fatwa on different topics, according to their knowledge of the most authentic Islamic sources and their application to current life. Where a difference in opinion exists between the marjas, each of them provide their own opinion and the Muqallid - or the follower - will follow his/her own marja's opinion on that subject.