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Pope condemns denial of Holocaust Pope condemns denial of Holocaust
(10 minutes later)
Pope Benedict XVI has told American Jewish leaders that any denial of the Holocaust is "intolerable", especially if it comes from a clergyman.Pope Benedict XVI has told American Jewish leaders that any denial of the Holocaust is "intolerable", especially if it comes from a clergyman.
He was speaking at the Vatican at his first direct talks with Jewish leaders since he lifted the excommunication of a Holocaust-denying bishop.He was speaking at the Vatican at his first direct talks with Jewish leaders since he lifted the excommunication of a Holocaust-denying bishop.
One of the Jewish leaders thanked the pontiff for showing solidarity.One of the Jewish leaders thanked the pontiff for showing solidarity.
The Pope has said he was unaware that Bishop Richard Williamson had denied the full extent of the Holocaust.The Pope has said he was unaware that Bishop Richard Williamson had denied the full extent of the Holocaust.
During the meeting, he confirmed he was planning to visit Israel.During the meeting, he confirmed he was planning to visit Israel.
Vatican sources have said the trip is scheduled for May.Vatican sources have said the trip is scheduled for May.
'Painful days''Painful days'
The Pope told more than 50 delegates from the Conference of American Jewish Organisations that "any denial or minimisation of this terrible crime [was] intolerable", especially from a priest.The Pope told more than 50 delegates from the Conference of American Jewish Organisations that "any denial or minimisation of this terrible crime [was] intolerable", especially from a priest.
"The hatred and contempt for men, women and children that was manifested in the Shoah [Holocaust] was a crime against humanity," he said."The hatred and contempt for men, women and children that was manifested in the Shoah [Holocaust] was a crime against humanity," he said.
"This should be clear to everyone, especially to those standing in the tradition of the Holy Scriptures...""This should be clear to everyone, especially to those standing in the tradition of the Holy Scriptures..."
Pope Benedict admitted that the 2,000-year-old relationship between Judaism and the Church had passed through some painful phases.Pope Benedict admitted that the 2,000-year-old relationship between Judaism and the Church had passed through some painful phases.
But he repeated the prayer the late Pope John Paul made when he visited Jerusalem in 2000, pleading for forgiveness from Jews for Christians who had persecuted them throughout history.But he repeated the prayer the late Pope John Paul made when he visited Jerusalem in 2000, pleading for forgiveness from Jews for Christians who had persecuted them throughout history.
In response, Rabbi Marc Schneier, head of the American Jewish congress, said his community had faced "painful and difficult days" because of Bishop Williamson's comments.In response, Rabbi Marc Schneier, head of the American Jewish congress, said his community had faced "painful and difficult days" because of Bishop Williamson's comments.
"Thank you for your understanding of our pain and anguish and your firm statement expressing unquestioned solidarity with the Jewish people," he said."Thank you for your understanding of our pain and anguish and your firm statement expressing unquestioned solidarity with the Jewish people," he said.
The Jewish leader added that Jews faced a "new scourge of anti-Semitism" including the desecration and burning of synagogues.The Jewish leader added that Jews faced a "new scourge of anti-Semitism" including the desecration and burning of synagogues.
'Extraordinary''Extraordinary'
Catholic-Jewish relations have soured over the Pope's decision last month to lift the excommunication of Bishop Williamson.Catholic-Jewish relations have soured over the Pope's decision last month to lift the excommunication of Bishop Williamson.
It's actually quite extraordinary the Pope didn't know about Williamson's history on the Holocaust Elena Curti deputy editor of the Tablet Catholic newspaperIt's actually quite extraordinary the Pope didn't know about Williamson's history on the Holocaust Elena Curti deputy editor of the Tablet Catholic newspaper
He has been under strong pressure to make a stand against anti-Semitism.He has been under strong pressure to make a stand against anti-Semitism.
The Jewish leaders had made it clear before the meeting that they were expecting the Pope to announce he was breaking all ties with Bishop Williamson's traditionalist group of Catholics until they recanted their anti-Semitic views, the BBC's David Willey reports from Rome.The Jewish leaders had made it clear before the meeting that they were expecting the Pope to announce he was breaking all ties with Bishop Williamson's traditionalist group of Catholics until they recanted their anti-Semitic views, the BBC's David Willey reports from Rome.
But the Pope made no specific mention of the row during his address, our correspondent notes.But the Pope made no specific mention of the row during his address, our correspondent notes.
Bishop Williamson was among four ultraconservative bishops - all members of the traditionalist Society of St Pius X (SSPX) - whose excommunications were lifted, in a bid by the Pope to end a schism that began in 1988 when they were ordained without Vatican permission.Bishop Williamson was among four ultraconservative bishops - all members of the traditionalist Society of St Pius X (SSPX) - whose excommunications were lifted, in a bid by the Pope to end a schism that began in 1988 when they were ordained without Vatican permission.
But it was then revealed that Bishop Williamson, who was born in Britain, had given an interview to a Swedish television programme last November, in which he disputed that six million Jews had died at the hands of the Nazis, and said that none had died in gas chambers.But it was then revealed that Bishop Williamson, who was born in Britain, had given an interview to a Swedish television programme last November, in which he disputed that six million Jews had died at the hands of the Nazis, and said that none had died in gas chambers.
'I believe there were no gas chambers' - Richard Williamson in November 2008'I believe there were no gas chambers' - Richard Williamson in November 2008
Bishop Williamson, who has been removed from his post as the head of a Roman Catholic seminary in Argentina, has refused to recant his remarks, despite an order from the Vatican to do so - merely saying he will re-examine the evidence on the Holocaust. Bishop Williamson, who has been removed from his post as the head of a seminary in Argentina, has refused to recant his remarks, despite an order from the Vatican to do so - merely saying he will re-examine the evidence on the Holocaust.
The Pope said previously he had not known about Bishop Williamson's views - a stance that Elena Curti, deputy editor of the Tablet Catholic newspaper, told the BBC was "extraordinary".The Pope said previously he had not known about Bishop Williamson's views - a stance that Elena Curti, deputy editor of the Tablet Catholic newspaper, told the BBC was "extraordinary".
They were "well known, it seems, to virtually everybody else", she said.They were "well known, it seems, to virtually everybody else", she said.