The Vatican on Wednesday condemned anti-Muslim “provocations” and the resulting “unacceptable violence” after a deadly attack on a US consulate in Libya over a film deemed offensive to Islam. “The serious consequences of unjustified offence and provocations against the sensibilities of Muslim believers are once again evident,” Vatican spokesman Federico Lombardi said in a statement. “The reactions they arouse, sometimes with tragic results, which in their turn nourish tension and hatred, unleashing unacceptable violence,” he said. “Profound respect for the beliefs, texts, outstanding figures and symbols of the various religions is an essential precondition for the peaceful coexistence of peoples,” he added. The spokesman also referred to Pope Benedict XVI’s three-day visit to Lebanon staring on Friday saying the pontiff would bring a “message of dialogue and respect for all believers of different religions.” This peaceful message indicates “the path that everyone should follow in order to construct shared and peaceful coexistence of religions and peoples.”