Pope Francis Decries ‘Resurgent, Barbaric’ Anti-Semitism in Meeting with Simon Wiesenthal Center Delegation on Eve of 75th Anniversary of Auschwitz Liberation

January 20, 2020

Vatican City - Speaking to Simon Wiesenthal Center delegation on eve of 75th Anniversary of Auschwitz Liberation: Pope Francis Decries ‘Resurgent, barbaric’ anti-Semitism; urges world ‘to look within and listen in silence to plea of suffering humanity.’

During a private audience of 54 international leadership delegation from the Simon Wiesenthal Center on the 78th anniversary of the infamous Wannsee Conference in 1942 that sealed the fate of European Jewry, and on the eve of the 75th anniversary of the liberation of the death camp at Auschwitz-Birkenau, Pope Francis warned the world, “If we lose our memory we destroy our future.” He added, "May the anniversary of the unspeakable cruelty that humanity learned of 75 years ago serve as a summons to pause, be still, and to remember. We need to do this lest we become indifferent."

Responding to the speech of Rabbi Marvin Hier, Dean and Founder of the leading Jewish Human Rights NGO, Pope Francis went on to denounce “a barbaric resurgence of cases of antisemitism. I will never tire of firmly condemning every form of antisemitism,” the Pope added.

Pope Francis concluded his remarks recalling the Vatican’s historic Nostra Aetate that pointed out the shared “rich spiritual patrimony” of Judaism and Christianity. He urged members of both faiths to work together and invoked the book of Exodus to “remember the past and have compassion on those who suffer, and in this way till the soil of fraternity.”

In his remarks, Rabbi Hier focused on the surging anti-Semitism worldwide:

"Sadly, our visit today comes at a time when anti-Semitism and bigotry have again taken center stage threatening our world and the future of humankind.

"It was on this very day, January 20th, some 78 years ago where 14 people sat around the table in Wannsee to plot the ‘Final Solution’, a code word that would lead to the extermination of 6 million Jews. Who could have imagined that a mere eight decades later we would again witness another worldwide epidemic of anti-Semitism and hate.

"That is our dilemma, here we are in 2020 - anti-Semitism and bigotry are present everywhere. In the heart of our democracies in London, Paris, in Berlin, in the Parliaments, and here in Rome where an 89-year-old Holocaust survivor needs police protection to go shopping. 

"This hate has now crossed the Atlantic and infected America’s cities, and her prestigious learning centers…even in the halls of Congress and the United Nations. 

"Worse, reminiscent of the Holocaust years, religious Jews identified by their skull caps, or by their beards, are particularly vulnerable, even when they light their Chanukah candles in the privacy of their home in Monsey, NY."

Turning his attention to the Holocaust-denying Iranian regime and to the world’s indifference to the persecution of Christians, Rabbi Hier asked: “How can we explain that 75 years after the liberation of Auschwitz, the leaders and mullahs of Iran continue to have the audacity to publicly deny that there ever was a Holocaust?  Yet they still receive VIP treatment when visiting almost every country in the world.”

"And why is the world and the UN silent when they know that Hezbollah has stored thousands of rockets and missile launchers near hospitals and schools, deliberately putting their children in harm’s way?

"And when they know Christians in Kenya and Nigeria are being targeted and beheaded in bloody terrorist attacks…when Lebanese Christians, Muslims and their Jewish neighbors in Northern Israel are threatened by Iran’s terrorist reach and threatened by an uncaring world!

"We would be remiss if we did not publicly express our solidarity with all of these endangered communities.”

Rabbi Hier concluded his remarks by thanking Pope Francis for next month’s release of Vatican archives that will shed light on the controversy surrounding Pope Pius XII and the Shoah.

Rabbi Hier's full speech at the Vatican:

"Your Holiness we are grateful for your kind invitation to once again visit with you here in the Vatican. We remember fondly our first visit just weeks after your election as Pope. Sadly, our visit today comes at a time when anti-Semitism and bigotry has again taken center stage threatening our world and the future of humankind. 

Indeed, it was on this very day, January 20th, some 78 years ago where 14 people sat around the table in Wannsee to plot the ‘final solution’, a code word that would lead to the extermination of 6 million Jews. Who could have imagined that a mere 8 decades later we would again witness another worldwide epidemic of anti-Semitism and hate. Your Holiness we have come to ask for your help, as the leader of the Christian world, to help us to confront this debasement of humanity!

The great 20th century thinker Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik posed a question on the verse in Exodus “And G-d saw the suffering of the children of Israel and he knew! Asks Rabbi Soloveitchik, if G-d knew?  Then why did he wait decades before redeeming the Israelites. So, Rabbi Soloveitchik answers, G-d waited for Moses, his earthly partner, who at the time was unprepared to accept the mission. As the Psalmist teaches “the heavens belong to G-d but the earth was given to man”.  G-d acts only in concert with his earthly partners so when Moses was ready for his mission he found his creator waiting for him at the Burning Bush! 

That is our dilemma, here we are in 2020 - Anti-Semitism and bigotry are present everywhere.  In the heart of our democracies in London, Paris, in Berlin, in the Parliaments, and here in Rome where an 89-year-old holocaust survivor needs police protection to go shopping.  This hate has now crossed the Atlantic and infected America’s cities, and her prestigious learning centers like Columbia and NYU, UCLA and Stanford, yes, it is present even in the halls of Congress and in the corridors of the United Nations.  The attacks often take place in broad daylight, even on trains and buses- witnessed by hundreds of onlookers.  

Worse, reminiscent of the Holocaust years, religious Jews identified by their skull caps, or by their beards, are particularly vulnerable, even when they light their Channuka candles in the privacy of their home in Monsey, NY.   In Montreal it was a taxi driver- who punched a young Jewish man in the face because he was wearing a Yarmulke.  In Miami, a 68-year old Jewish man was shot 6 times, his crime: walking into his synagogue.  How can we explain that 75 years after the liberation of Auschwitz, the leaders and mullahs of Iran continue to have the audacity to publicly deny that there ever was a Holocaust?  Yet they still receive VIP treatment when visiting almost every country in the world.  And why is the world and the UN silent when they know that Hezbollah has stored thousands of rockets and missile launchers near hospitals and schools, deliberately putting their children in harm’s way. And when they know Christians in Kenya and Nigeria are being beheaded and targeted in bloody terrorist attacks. We would be remiss if we didn’t publicly express our solidarity with them. 

Your Holiness, we seek your help in teaching our world that while we may not be in the Garden of Eden, indifference is too high a price to pay for men and women created in the image of G-d.  We have the ability and the responsibility to stand up to the evil that threatens us. Let us remember what Winston Churchill said, had the world challenged the Nazis in the early 30’s, tens of millions would have been spared from making the ultimate sacrifice in the 40’s.  

And the words of Simon Wiesenthal who reminded us- Freedom is not a gift from heaven, it is something we have to fight for each and every day.  So, let us unite together in the battle against anti-Semitism and hate and win the day for our children, grandchildren and for future generations."

Full Address of His Holiness Pope Francis: 

"Dear Friends,

I offer you a cordial welcome. Your Center, active throughout the world, seeks to combat all forms of antisemitism, racism and hatred towards minorities. For decades, you have maintained contacts with the Holy See, in a shared desire to make the world a better place in respect for human dignity. This dignity is due to every person in equal measure, regardless of his or her ethnic origin, religion or social status. It is essential to teach tolerance, mutual understanding and freedom of religion, and the promotion of peace within society.

In a particular way, you help keep alive the memory of the Holocaust. A week from now, 27 January, will mark the seventy-fifth anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp. In 2016, I went there to reflect and to pray in silence. In our world, with its whirlwind of activity, we find it hard to pause, to look within and to listen in silence to the plea of suffering humanity. Our consumerist society also squanders words: how many unhelpful words are spoken, how much time is wasted in arguing, accusing, shouting insults, without a real concern for what we say. Silence, on the other hand, helps to keep memory alive. If we lose our memory, we destroy our future. May the anniversary of the unspeakable cruelty that humanity learned of seventy-five years ago serve as a summons to pause, to be still and to remember. We need to do this, lest we become indifferent.

It is troubling to see, in many parts of the world, an increase in selfishness and indifference, lack of concern for others and the attitude that says life is good as long as it is good for me, and when things go wrong, anger and malice are unleashed. This creates a fertile ground for the forms of factionalism and populism we see around us, where hatred quickly springs up. Even recently, we have witnessed a barbaric resurgence of cases of antisemitism. I never tire of firmly condemning every form of antisemitism. To tackle the cause of the problem, however, we must commit ourselves also to tilling the soil in which hatred grows and sowing peace instead. For it is through integration and seeking to understand others that we more effectively protect ourselves. Hence it is urgent to reintegrate those who are marginalized, to reach out to those far away, to support those ignored for lack of resources or funds, and assist to those are victims of intolerance and discrimination. 

The Declaration Nostra Aetate pointed out that Jews and Christians possess a rich spiritual patrimony (cf. no. 4), which needs to be increasingly appreciated and put at the service others. I feel that we, above all, are summoned, especially today, to such service: not to take the path of distance and exclusion, butt that of proximity and inclusion; not to force solutions, but to initiate ways of drawing closer together. If we do not do this – we who believe in Him who from on high remembered us and showed compassion for our weakness – then who will? I am reminded of the words of the Book of Exodus: “God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob. And God saw the people of Israel – and God knew their condition” (2:24-25). Let us too remember the past and have compassion on those who suffer, and in this way till the soil of fraternity. 

Dear friends, I thank you for your efforts; may we continue to cooperate in the defense of the most vulnerable of our brothers and sisters. May the Almighty help us to respect one another and to love one another more, and to make the earth a better place by sowing seeds of peace. Shalom!"

The Simon Wiesenthal Center is one of the largest international Jewish human rights organizations with over 400,000 member families in the United States. It is an NGO at international agencies including the United Nations, UNESCO, the OSCE, the OAS, the Council of Europe and the Latin American Parliament (Parlatino).