TEHRAN, Sept. 16 (Xinhua) -- Iran denounced Pope Benedict XVI on Saturday for his recent comments on Islam and requested a apology, the official IRNA news agency reported.

   The pope's remarks were "contradictory to his status as the leader of one of the world's divine faiths," Foreign Ministry spokesman Mohammad Ali Hosseini was quoted as saying.

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   The remarks made by the pope, "emanate from political interpretations and are contrary to the divine notions, we consider it's a big mistake... and we condemn them," he added.

   "In order to prevent the indignation of the Muslim's world, the Pope should reconsider and correct his comments," the spokesman stressed.

   Ahmad Khatami, a leading Iranian cleric talking to worshippers at the main weekly prayers in Tehran on Friday, also criticized that "it is a pity that the leader of the world's Christians is so uninformed about Islam and speaks so rudely."

   In a speech at Regensburg University in Germany on Tuesday, Pope Benedict XVI quoted a 14th-century Christian emperor who said the Prophet Muhammad had brought the world only "evil and inhuman" things.

   The statement drew immediately criticism from Muslims worldwide. Enditem