Given that the Muslim world tends to react to statements such as this by burning effigies/diplomatic offices*, I'm not sure I can disagree with what the Pope says.

* Basically, it boils down to this.
"Islam is a violent faith."
"TAKE THAT BACK OR WE'LL KILL YOU!"

And this crap about extending an apology or retracting the statement because it will harm relations... is insane... it's saying "Do as we say, or you'll suffer the consequences."

Edit; None of this is to say that Catholicism has gone up in my eyes.