The original idea behind the Crusades was to protect Christians in the Holy Land and pilgrims on their way to holy places against violence and oppression by Muslims.
However, the Crusaders sometimes used too much violence. Often, destruction and pillaging occurred under the guise of a Crusade. There can be no justification for such things! In 2001, Pope John Paul II said: “For all those times Muslims and Christians offended each other, we must ask forgiveness of God and we must forgive each other.”
