Italian fashion label Benetton has pulled a doctored image of the Pope kissing another man from its new Unhate campaign after the outraged Vatican protested.
The shot depicted Pope Benedict XVI kissing Sheik Ahmed Muhammed el-Tayeb, a leading Egyptian theologian and Imam of the 1000-year-old Al-Azhar Mosque.
"This shows a grave lack of respect for the Pope, an offence to the feelings of believers, a clear demonstration of how publicity can violate the basic rules of respect for people," The Vatican said.
Other public figures in the campaign include President Barack Obama and Chinese Paramount Leader Hu Jintao kissing as well as North Korean Leader Kim Jong II and South Korean President Le Myung-bak locking lips.
Deputy head of Benetton, Alessandro Benetton, admitted the campaign was created to court controversy, but said it was seeking out publicity "for an ideal notion of tolerance."
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