Pope XVI is invited to visit Israel but it appears the leader of the world’s Roman Catholic community is unwilling to do so until such time a display in Yad Vashem is taken down.
It appears that the Vatican is demanding to remove the display which documents Pope XII did nothing publicly to condemn the slaughter of Jews during WWII. Italian media is now reporting that until the display is removed from Israel’s Holocaust museum the current pope is unwilling to visit.
Cardinal Peter Gamble has released the message, calling the Yad Vashem display “a distortion of history… The Vatican wants good relations with Israel but such a relationship requires reciprocity”.
The following statement was obtained from Yad Vashem in response to the report:
“Any visit by Pope XVI to Israel would be a political matter, and therefore Yad Vashem is not a part of this matter, as has been clarified by the Vatican’s spokesperson.
“The study of the Holocaust period in general, including the role of Pope XII, is ongoing and dynamic. Pope XII’s activity during the Holocaust is an issue debated among historians around the world. The presentation of the subject in the Holocaust History Museum at Yad Vashem is based on the best research regarding this topic.
“Yad Vashem’s historians are attentive to any research developments and new relevant documentation, and continue to delve into every aspect of the period. Yad Vashem is certain that the opening of Vatican Archives on the relevant period would help further research on the subject, which would clarify this historical issue.”
(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)
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19 Responses
who needs the pope to visit israel anyways?
Mr. Pope,
Lo Meduvshaich, V’lo MeUktzaich.
Of’m Ganeff brennt dos Hittel!
These Galochim know more than they are admitting.
To answer grodno – Such a visit brings in $$$ to Israel with all the accompanying staff and reporters and followers of his religion.
I was on the point of forwarding this item to Msgr. Frederick Dolan, the Vicar for Canada of the Roman Catholic religious order of Opus Dei, whom I know personally, when I noticed that you have referred to the two popes in question without using their formal religious names.
This behaviour is incorrect and unacceptable, in addition to being extremely insulting and rude.
The name of the present pope is Pope Benedict XVI, NOT Pope XVI.
The other pope to whom you refer — the one about whom there is great controversy as to what he did or did not do in World War II — is named Pope Pius XII, NOT Pope XII.
David Pinto
Montreal, Canada
Let His Haghtiness stay in his blood soaked Vatican refuge.
David, why don’t you forward the item without a reference to the URL of the original article, and add in the names yourself.
I wonder how a Jew is supposed to know that it is insulting and rude to not use the Catholic leader’s chosen name. I would understand if the article referred to the Catholic leader as “Ratzinger”. But the editors used his Catholic chosen name, not his birth name, and that is insulting to you?
I meant the numbers, not the names; they used the numbers that the respective leaders chose, as opposed to their birth last names.
The leader of the blood soaked Church is neither wanted nor needed.
Why is he afraid of the truth?
Yad Vashem answered well- the Vatican refuses to open its records for that period, so it is hipocrisy to demand changes in historical facts, which when disclosed, could actually damage their already sullied reputation.
#11: His Unholiness.
“I dont discuss buisness on this (sunday) holy day of the week”,Pope Unpius Ymach Shmo Vezichro told Horav Weissmandel ztzal ,while 10,000 Jews wer being slautered daily.The treasures of the Vatican( Cath. Church) is the result of 2000 years of thievry and murder. Much worse than the Mafia.See Sefer Ovadia Ist parsha,Ist Yishmael gets wiped out then Edom (Christianity).
so let him stay home. we know what happened and in the case of the smurch what didn’t happen. lets never forget all the yiddisha kinderlach they ‘saved’ over the course of the war.
Who wants a former member of Hitler Yugend to visit Yad Vashem anyway? He will most probably bow his head and pray that the rosho of Iran will be successful with the atomic bomb, Chas V’Shalom!
#16, Not that it makes much difference but; Ratzinger was in the Hitlerjugent against his will, this is from Wikipedia, “Ratzinger was enrolled in the Hitler Youth—as membership was required for all 14-year old German boys after December 1939 —but was an unenthusiastic member and refused to attend meetings. His father was a bitter enemy of Nazism, believing it conflicted with the Catholic faith. In 1943 while still in seminary, he was drafted at age 16 into the German anti-aircraft corps. Ratzinger then trained in the German infantry, but a subsequent illness precluded him from the usual rigours of military duty. As the Allied front drew closer to his post in 1945, he deserted back to his family’s home in Traunstein after his unit had ceased to exist, just as American troops established their headquarters in the Ratzinger household.”
So, one thing you can’t accuse him of, is being a Nazi. Ich zog nisht er’z a groiser tzadik…
#5 I respect your setting the record straight on proper Papal names…but more important read what #10 has said…..that say’s it all!!!
When they return all the plundered Jewish items from the Vatican including the vessels of the Beis Hamikdash, then we will consider this request and probably turn it down as we like to stick to the truth!
So let him not visit. Big Deal! Will that break Jewish hearts?