BEIJING -- The head of China's Muslim society expressed on Monday his deep anger over remarks made by Pope Benedict XVI on September 12, when he cited the words of a Byzantine emperor who characterized some of the teachings of Islam's Prophet Muhammad as "evil and inhuman".

"In his speech, Benedict had insulted both Islam and the Prophet Muhammad," said Chen Guangyuan, president of Islamic Association of China in an exclusive interview with Xinhua.

"This has gravely hurt the feelings of the Muslims across the world, including those from China," Chen said.

"Both the Islamic Association of China and Chinese Muslim would here express their anger and condemnation over Benedict's words," he said.

"We strongly request Pope Benedict XVI to immediately take back his words and apologize openly and in person," said the president.

Actually, Chen said, the Islam is a religion which advocates peace, tranquility, tolerance and benignity.

"Prophet Muhammad is an emissary of peace who had devoted his whole life to promote and practise the mission of peace, tolerance and benignity," he said.

"We did not send you for the reason other than to symbolize and serve as an embodiment of mercy, which God has extended to all His Creatures," Chen quoted Allah, who assigned missions for Muhammad in Al-Quran, as saying.

According to Chen, Prophet Muhammad had also made it clear that his only task is "guide and exercise mercy" to the people from across the world.

"We will adhere to the aforesaid spirit promoted by Prophet Muhammad and hope that different religions and civilizations may respect each other, carry out dialogues equally and exist peacefully," he said.

Benedict on Sunday said he was "deeply sorry" for his speech last week in Germany that offended Muslims, particularly his quoting of the medieval text that characterized some of the teachings of Islam's founder as "evil and inhuman" and referred to spreading Islam "by the sword."

In a declaration released here Monday, the Peace Committee of Chinese Religious Circle condemned Benedict for his remarks against Islam and Prophet Muhammad.

According to the declaration, Benedict's remarks had not only hurt the feelings of Chinese Muslims, but also rendered negative effect on China's religions.

"China's religious circles are greatly concerned about and express strong condemnation over the remarks," said the declaration.

"Peace, security, accord and harmony are the common goal admired by the whole world," it said. "Various religions, including Islam, have all enjoyed long standing and wide influence as well as teachings of treating others equally, coexist with others harmoniously, run against violence and act with mercy and love."

Although Rome has apologized to the Muslim worldwide, the declaration said, in order to prevent reoccurrence of similar case, "we here call for equal dialogues, mutual respect, peaceful coexistence under the principles of friendship, peace, development and cooperation."

"All the confrontation remarks that help create confrontation between civilizations, religious conflicts and ethnic disputes will be grave betrayal to religious wisdom," it said.