In 1933, when he was Secretary of the Vatican State, he was active in obtaining a Concordat with the German regime to preserve the Church's rights in Germany, even if this meant recognizing the Nazi racist regime. When he was elected Pope in 1939, he shelved a letter against racism and anti-Semitism that his predecessor had prepared. Even when reports about the murder of Jews reached the Vatican, the Pope did not protest either verbally or in writing. In December 1942, he abstained from signing the Allied declaration condemning the extermination of the Jews. When Jews were deported from Rome to Auschwitz, the Pope did not intervene. The Pope maintained his neutral position throughout the war, with the exception of appeals to the rulers of Hungary and Slovakia towards its end. His silence and the absence of guidelines obliged Churchmen throughout Europe to decide on their own how to react.
If I were Pope Benedict XVI, I wouldn't have even bothered to show up at the place at all.
“If I were Pope Benedict XVI, I wouldn’t have even bothered to show up at the place at all.”
####
Indeed.
The Vatican took Israel to task over the historical inaccuracies of that exhibit.
However, it remains on prominent display (and was discussed during the EWTN broadcast last night), and Pope Benedict did show up after all.
— Sigh —
“If I were Pope Benedict XVI, I wouldn’t have even bothered to show up at the place at all.”
####
Indeed.
The Vatican took Israel to task over the historical inaccuracies of that exhibit.
However, it remains on prominent display (and was discussed during the EWTN broadcast last night), and Pope Benedict did show up after all.
— Sigh —