Jerusalem – Israel’s Holocaust memorial chairman expressed disappointment at a speech by Pope Benedict on Monday in which he strove to repair relations between Jews and the Catholic Church, damaged by a Holocaust-denying bishop.
Subscribe to our Daily Roundup Email
“There certainly was no apology expressed here,” Rabbi Israel Meir Lau, chairman of the Yad Vashem council, told Israeli television on the first day of the papal visit.
The German-born pope made a moving speech, he said, but added: “Something was missing. There was no mention of the Germans or the Nazis who participated in the butchery, nor a word of regret.”
Nor was there an “expression of empathy with the sorrow.”
Lau also criticised the pope for not specifically saying six million Jews were killed — though Pope Benedict did use this figure earlier in the day during another speech.
Why should he have mentioned the criminals who had nothing to do with his church? And why is it important to always mention the number of dead?
Dear Mr. Lau: Get over it…he is not going to apologize for what the Church may have or not have done over 70 years ago but certainly not for the German government. He is going as far as his principles will allow and he has treated the matter with a reasonably high level of transparency so I’m not sure what you expect. He will not say what you and I would like him to say .
This Pope wore the swastika proudly. Never forget !!! Eisav sonai Yakov !!! Give him a matanah, call him friend and brother, and then tell him we will meet him later. Daven to HKBH for hatzlucha and if he fights, prepare for war !!! Oh by the way, watch out for Eisav’s brotherly hug an kiss.
Why does the pope have to apologize for the holocaust? Hitler (ym”s) was not a catholic nor were the Nazis
All you people have so much outrage and not one has an answer. Why should the Pope mention criminals who had NOTHING to do with his church, and in fact persecuted it? And why does he need to mention the specific number EVERY TIME he opens his mouth? Do YOU mention the number every time you talk about them?
Why does the pope have to care at all about this? It wasn’t 6 million catholics who died. The catholic church wasn’t running the camps. Why does he have to address this at all? Let him go preach his nonsense to his “flock”, take care of his official state business and go home.
I see no gain in this constant harping and nitpicking with the poips. We have nothing to do with them and their religion, unless it’s unavoidable, and they have nothing to do with us.
Why Rabbi Lau had to be interviewed about his speech, i have no idea
this pope yimach shmoy was part of hitler youth. of course he should express some remorse or sorrow.
He is the “bo koiach” of Oisio ish!!!!
I’m glad the Pope came to Israel. I’m glad he visited Yad Vashem. I’m glad he spoke about the holocaust.
the fact that the pope himself served in the nazi armi together with his brother’ however he claims to have hated the nazis all along?!?!?