VATICAN CITY — Pope Benedict XVI has invited representatives of Muslim countries to meet next week at his summer residence, the Vatican said today.

Benedict will meet Monday with ambassadors from Muslim countries. A Muslim council that advised the Italian government on integration issues also was expected to participate.

The Vatican has been seeking to defuse anger across the Muslim world that followed the pope's remarks about Islam last week in Germany.

Benedict cited the words of a Byzantine emperor who characterized some of the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad as "evil and inhuman."