Israel’s News Blog Magazine: Daily Stories Video and PhotosBy Maurice Picow
Citing it as a “particularly difficult and troublesome visit”, Pope Benedictus IVI’s visit to the former Auschwitz concentration camp was one in which all who were present could see that the German born Pontiff was visibly moved by the experience. Passing under the infamous entrance, the words Arbeit Mach Frei (work makes freedom) still in place, the Pope spent two hours at the site, in weather the seemed to change with the progress of his visit: from rain and ominous grey to sunshine and even a rainbow.
In the midst of a large crowd that also included several Auschwitz camp survivors, as well a several Rabbis and other Jewish dignitaries, the Pope made comments which included ones in which he could not understand how such a thing could have happened “to the children of Abraham”, the founder of the religion from whom his own faith emerged. “Why Lord did you remain silent? How could you tolerate this?” The 78 year old Pontiff, who himself had been in both in the Hitler Youth and the German Army, before being captured near the end of the war, said that he had “come to Auschwitz as a son of the German People”, and spoke about forgiveness and understanding towards the people who had once been acclaimed as the most cultured and progressive of Europe before slipping into the maelstrom of the Hitler years.
Though asking for forgiveness in his prayers, the Pontiff did not ask for a pardon for Germany’s sins. He did say as a son of the German People it was a tragedy that a group of criminals could exert so much influence on his country and turn them away from God. “That they (the Nazis) wanted to eliminate the Children of Abraham, it means that they also wanted to destroy the faith of those who came afterwards as well. By destroying Israel, they also wanted to destroy the Christian faith and replace it with an evil ‘religion’ of their own”, the Pontiff said to the assembled crowd.
The visit culminated his four day visit to Poland, the birth place of his predecessor, Pope John-Paul II. A most moving part of the visit was when he met with a group of camp survivors. One of them, 84 year old Kazimerz Albin, spoke to the Pope in German, especially moving the Pontiff to kiss him. Albin was one of first ‘work camp deportees’, arriving in Auschwitz in 1940. Albin said that he told Pope Benedict that it was wonderful that a German Pope had chosen to come here. The Pontiff answered that he was grateful for the opportunity to visit here and to meet with some of those who had suffered so much at the hands of his own people.
One camp survivor, wearing the stripped cap of a “Sonderkommando” ,one who had to dispose of the corpses of slain camp inmates, wished the Pope long life and success in his quest for peace and reconciliation.
Though Benedict IVI’s visit may not have erased all the horrors of the past, it did help to create a closer bond with those who were victims of what did happen there, as well as with those who have to live with the memories and stigma of these events that occurred more than 60 years ago.
2 Comments
Tears of greatful awe. Praise HaShem for every healing touch that draws us closer to Him and closer to one another!
I agree - Amen!
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