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Nation-wide home interviews conducted September 23-24 2006 in 100 residencies in 44 regions. A sample size of 1500 respondents. The margin of error does not exceed 3,6%.
According to a recent poll, forty-seven percent of Russians know or have heard something about the Muslim protests against the Pope's speech, and about as many (49%) didn't hear about the protests until the interview.
Respondents who were aware of the protests were asked why they thought the protests were occurring. Most often (10%) respondents believed that indignation resulted from "the Pope's ill-advised speech", his "tactless statement", his having "said something wrong"; "came forward with some kind of statement". Some (7%) suggested that the Pope insulted Moslems and the Prophet Muhammad by quoting an anti-Islamic statement ("the Pope cited an emperor's statement that was against Islam"; " the Pope's speech denigrated the Moslem faith"). Others (4%) stressed, while describing what had happened, that Moslems simply were looking for a fight ("all they want is to make noise and foment war, there is no real reason"; "they don't need any sound reasons"). About two percent of those surveyed suggested that the Pope and Moslems "misunderstood each other", so the conflict arose "due to misinterpretation of the Pope's words." A few respondents suggested that the protests were instigated by a third party seeking to exacerbate enmity between the Muslim and Christian communities.
Regardless of whether they were aware of the Moslem protests, all respondents were told by the interviewers that in a speech at a German university, Pope Benedict XVI quoted a 14th century Byzantine emperor who said that Mohammed brought nothing but `evil and inhumanity' to the world. Respondents were then questioned regarding their sympathies: those who condemned the Pope for using the quotation or those who saw nothing objectionable in using the quotation. Twenty-six percent of Russians (and 36% of university graduates) condemned Benedict XVI while thirty-seven percent saw nothing improper in use of the quotation. About as many (36%) found the question difficult to answer.
All respondents, regardless of their awareness prior to the interview, were told, furthermore, that mass protest rallies arose all over the Moslem world following the Pope's speech, and were asked about their attitudes towards these protests. A 42% majority of those surveyed said they were indifferent, 11% approved of the protests, and three times as many (33%) disapproved. While more prone than Russians in general to condemn the Pope for his statement, university graduates also showed a higher degree of negativity (43%) regarding Moslem protests.
According to 39% of respondents (49% of those with higher education), Benedict XVI should apologize to Moslems for his speech. Proponents of this opinion primarily (18%) argued that the form of the Pope's statement was incorrect: "He put it in a rude way". A man of such stature as the Pope should be more careful, another four percent stressed: "Such prominent figures have to watch what they say". Two percent said that an apology would be necessary for the pontiff to explain himself. Just as many said that the Pope was guilty and should apologize, but didn't specify what he was guilty of. 1% of respondents insisted that Benedict XVI apologize because he offended Moslems,, and 8% said an apology was necessary to prevent escalation of the conflict ("so as not to fan the flames of conflict further").
About one-fourth of Russians (23%) stated that there was no need for the Pope to apologize for what he had said. When asked why, (6%) they pointed to the fact that the phrase at issue was a quote and not Benedict's own opinion: "He quoted what someone else had said about Moslems". Three percent, on the contrary, said that the pontiff's words reflected his point of view, to which he was absolutely entitled: "A point of view is no crime". The lack of offensive intention was stressed by another 3%: "He himself didn't mean to offend them". Two-percent of respondents noted that what the Pope said was true, and nobody should apologize for the truth ("why apologize for speaking the truth?"). Muslim fanatics only seek to quarrel, as 1% of those polled stated: "Muslims are always looking for occasions to find fault". Another 1% insisted that the Pope should not apologize because Muslims themselves "do whatever they like without ever apologizing to anyone".
Benedict XVI expressed regret at causing offense to Muslims. Half of Russians (51%) think this is enough and the Pope should make no further apologies (university graduates and megapolis residents support this point of view more often than others, 57% and 63% of the time, respectively). Saying he was sorry was not enough, and the pontiff should apologize more straightforwardly, 22% of respondents believe, while 27% are undecided in this respect.
Svetlana Klimova
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