Pope Benedict XVI has spoken of his "deep respect" for Islam as he embarked on the first leg of his Middle East tour.After arriving in Amman on Friday, he said he came to the Jordanian capital as a "pilgrim to venerate holy places that have played an important part in some of the key events of Biblical history".His week-long tour is being seen as an attempt to repair the Vatican's frayed ties with Muslims and Jews and support Christian minorities in the region.The pope said his visit also gave him the "welcome opportunity to speak of my deep respect for the Muslim community"."Religious freedom is a fundamental human right, and it is my fervent hope and prayer that respect for the inalienable rights and dignity of every man and woman will come to be increasingly affirmed and defended, not only throughout the Middle East, but in every part of the world," he said.
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