Vatican shuns Yad Vashem for telling the truth about Pius XII

Apparently, the Vatican is unable to face the fact that Pius XII didn’t do squat to stop the murder of six million Jews, and its representative is boycotting the memorial at Yad Vashem for the Holocaust Day observances.

Vatican ambassador to Israel Monsignor Antonio Franco has refused to participate in annual Holocaust Day memorial services at the Yad Vashem Museum in Jerusalem.

Franco is shunning the service due a photograph displayed at the Holocaust museum depicting then-Pope Pius XII. The caption beside the photo comments on the pope’s dubious reaction to the murder of Jews during the Holocaust.

The controversial photograph first appeared at the new Yad Vashem museum in 2005. In early 2006, the previous Vatican ambassador turned to the museum with the request that the caption be changed. In response, Yad Vashem said they would readily examine Pius XII’s conduct during the Holocaust if the Vatican opened its World War II-era archives to the museum’s research staff. The Vatican however did not open the archives, and thus the caption remained.

That Vatican. So touchy on the subject of the Holocaust, and the same organization that refused to establish full relations with Israel until, hm, 1993. But I’m sure there were very good reasons for it. Like the Vatican opposition to Jews establishing a home in the British Mandate of Palestine. (That was Pius XII, the guy who wasn’t anti-Semitic. I suppose he was one of the world’s first anti-Zionists.)

Officials involved in the matter told Ynet, “This is a very sensitive matter which needs to be examined in depth. It is important to us that all diplomatic delegates attend the memorial ceremony. As well, Israel aspires to good relations with the Vatican.

“On the other hand history cannot be changed, and if certain officials failed to help Jews during the Holocaust – that is the reality. There are nations that take responsibility for their actions during the Holocaust and those that don’t. The Vatican did not actively participate in exterminating Jews, but questions remain regarding the pope’s actions.

“Since the Holocaust there have been substantial improvements in relations between Israel and the Vatican, but certain scars from the past cannot be ignored. History can’t be tossed in the trash.”

Here’s Yad Vashem’s page on the Pope. Here is the Catholic League’s response. There aren’t any cites to that information, just summations, and, gee, they’re the ones run by Bill Donahue, who says that Hollywood is full of secular Jews who hate Christianity.

Here’s the Jewish Virtual Library page on Pius XII. Here’s a review of “Hitler’s Pope.” Or just go here, and start reading.

It isn’t the Jews the Vatican should be worried about. Jews aren’t murdering Christians all over the world in the name of religion. Jews aren’t pushing Christians out of the few remaining Middle Eastern countries where they still survive. And it isn’t fanatical Jews that are blowing themselves up all over the world in an effort to force their religion on others.

Which is, I’m sure, one of the reasons the Vatican ambassador feels free to shun a Holocaust Day remembrance. Because Jews won’t riot and try to kill him for it.