The pope need not apologize to Christians who are being persecuted by zealots. The truth must be said—Muslims have great religious freedom in the West, yet they do not extend it to Christians in predominantly Muslim nations. The only ones who must apologize are those whose action and silence spreads militant Islam.
That includes Islamic religious leaders who turn a blind eye to radicals in their fold as well as to the worldwide media for failing to report accurately on what the pope actually said.