MICHAEL Baldasera celebrates the commercial spin-offs from the Pope’s visit – scarf sales and tourists’ spending (HAS, Sept 24). Poor Jesus – how far is this nonsense from His message?

Might the returned Messiah place Himself under Simon Cowell’s management to fully exploit the commercial value of the exercise?

Moving from the ridiculous to the chilling, Mr Baldasera takes comfort in the Pope’s reported “working relationship with Iran”. The idea of two religious leaders planning the world’s future is truly frightening.

With the barbaric regime in Iran on the point of acquiring nuclear weapons, we are already beyond the point of cosy discussions between groups whose holy texts promise eternal paradise for those who do God’s will – as interpreted, of course, by mullahs and priests.

With the power of destruction imminently available to them, aspiring martyrs will not make good neighbours. Iran must be stopped; the destruction of the brutal, but secular, regime in Iraq has been a disaster, and strengthened the mullahs’ position.

Buoyant scarf sales notwithstanding, we can no longer afford the luxury of faith in place of reason.

Robert Meggs, Hartlepool.

THE Concise Oxford Dictionary defines “catholic” as “universal; of interest or use to all men”.

“Catholic Church” is defined as “the whole body of Christians”.

The Pope is not accepted as representing “the whole body of Christians” – only those who follow the teachings of the Church of Rome. So all references to His Holiness should be titled “Roman Catholic” and not just “Catholic”. This misuse of the word “catholic” is a common fault in most newspapers.

Brian Jefferson, Darlington.