Well, I can understand why he is saying this. Millions of Catholic Poles died in the death camps, as well as Jews. And it was German Nazis who killed them, not Poles. And Stalin killed his share, too, including the massacre of most of Poland’s officers.
Poland was caught between Hitler and Stalin, who divided the country up in the Hitler-Stalin pact, and the Poles were invaded and massacred from both sides. Yet Poland often gets the blame for antisemitism from the leftists. On the contrary, Poland was one of the freest and most democratic countries in Europe, until the onslaught from Cossacks and others put an end to it. That’s one reason why there used to be so many Jewish settlements in Poland.
Still, this was a foolish thing to have said. However much Poland suffered, it doesn’t help to belittle the Holocaust.
Maybe I should add that we don’t know how much his words have been distorted. He would not be the first to wonder why the Millions of Poles who died in the death camps should not be mentioned. Indeed, I hope he did not phrase it as this article suggests he did.
As a Catholic of Polish-heritage, I agree wholeheartedly.