VATICAN CITY -- Pope Benedict XVI on Wednesday expressed deep respect for Islam and emphasized the belief in one God that unites Muslims and Christians -- his latest attempt to defuse the crisis swirling around his recent comments on Islam.

At a weekly general audience in St. Peter's Square, before thousands of pilgrims and amid tight security, Benedict went further than he has to date, not only reiterating his regret for the fury that his comments provoked, but also pronouncing his high regard for the faith that those words seemed to attack.

"I hope that my profound respect for the great religions and, in particular, for Muslims ... has become clear," the pope said. It is Muslims, he said, "who worship the one God and with whom we promote peace, liberty, social justice and moral values for the benefit of all humanity."

That language, some of it taken from the landmark Nostra Aetate, the Vatican's 1965 document that formally recognized other religions, is reminiscent of the way Benedict's predecessor John Paul II often characterized Muslims and Jews. John Paul was an enthusiastic promoter of interfaith dialogue, especially among the three monotheistic religions: Christianity, Judaism and Islam. Benedict, by contrast, has approached dialogue more cautiously.

Authorities stepped up security at St. Peter's Square, following shadowy threats on the pope's life posted on extremist Web sites. Uniformed paramilitary police screened pilgrims with metal detectors, while plainclothes agents mingled with the crowd.

Despite the increased alert, the pope, dressed in white vestments, toured the piazza, standing in the back of an open vehicle and waving at the crowd.

It was the pope's citation of a medieval Byzantine emperor who disdained Islam and its founder, Muhammad, that ignited furor in parts of the Muslim world.

The emperor Manuel II Paleologus, speaking in the 14th century, said Islam offered "things only evil and inhuman" and Muhammad "spread by the sword the faith he preached."

Wednesday was the second time in four days that Benedict has attempted to clarify and soften the remarks, which he insists have been misinterpreted since he delivered them last week at the University of Regensburg in Germany.

The quote, he said, was "incomprehensibly brusque," but he used it "to introduce to the audience the drama and relevance" of his argument that religion and violence cannot be paired.

"This quotation, unfortunately, was misunderstood," Benedict said. "In no way did I wish to make my own the words of the medieval emperor.

"I trust that, after the initial reaction, my words at Regensburg can constitute an incentive and an encouragement for dialogue that is positive and also self-critical, both between the religions and between modern reason and the Christian faith."