Pope underlines his support for Jews
The Pope denounced Holocaust denial again today when he met Jewish leaders as the row over his reinstatement of a right-wing bishop rumbled on.
Relations between the Vatican and the Jewish community have suffered since Briton Richard Williamson had his excommunication lifted last month.
He had denied any Jews died in Hitler’s gas chambers.
The Pope said today that any denial or minimising of the Holocaust was unacceptable, especially by a priest.
He also said he was preparing to visit Israel during a meeting at the Vatican with 60 American Jewish leaders.
The audience was scheduled after the pope lifted Bishop Williamson’s excommunication.
The German-born Pope issued his strongest condemnation yet of Holocaust denial during the meeting, calling the Holocaust a crime against humanity and affirming the Catholic Church was “profoundly and irrevocably committed to reject all anti-Semitism”.
