Israel’s chief rabbi expresses concern over possible sainthood for Pope Pius XII

JERUSALEM (WJC) — Israel’s Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi Yona Metzger has said that Pope Benedict XVI’s decision to proceed with the beatification of war-time Pope Pius XII made it difficult to continue with Catholic-Jewish interfaith dialogue. However, Metzger emphasized that the Israeli Chief Rabbinate would not cut off relations with the Vatican. On Saturday, Pope Benedict XVI signed a ‘decree of virtue’, a move that brings Pius a step closer beatification.

“From experience, we have seen that maintaining contact with leaders of other religions is important. Nevertheless, we will express our dissatisfaction with this controversial decision,” the chief rabbi was quoted as saying by the ‘Jerusalem Post’. “We have an ongoing dialogue with the Vatican. If we tell them that we were hurt by this decision I am sure they will understand,” added the chief rabbi, who voiced hope that the final decision would be delayed until more information about Pius’s role during the Holocaust can be ascertained. ”

Metzger added that Benedict’s decision might strengthen Holocaust deniers. “This is a man who may or may not have done enough during the Holocaust to save Jews. Elevating him to the status of blessed or saint before the controversy is cleared up might give credence to Holocaust deniers.”

Former Chief Rabbi Yisrael Lau, who currently serves as chairman of Yad Vashem, told CNN: “I say with all the respect. Don’t do it, especially not now when many survivors are still alive and it will hurt them deeply knowing that the man who could save, could do much more and did not do it. Don’t make him holy. This is a shame I think for the church. It is not a good education for generations to come.”

The Vatican maintains that Pius XII worked quietly behind the scenes to save Jewish lives during the war, but church archives that might shed more light on his actions remain sealed despite repeated requests from historians for access.

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Preceding provided by World Jewish Congress