And the fact is, Pius XII wasn't all that Pius. I really respect Yad Vashem's position on this. The vatican's position is shameful: change the facts to make us feel better.

The Vatican refused to grant Yad Vashem access to their archives on this matter because they have something to hide about Pope Pius during WW II, Their Loss is Israel's gain.

Send this guy packing and tell the Vatican to come up with someone who has better sense for diplomacy and reality, unpleasant as the latter may have been. I bet, if PiusXII had been very helpful, the Vatican would fall all over itself to furnish proof for that.

The Vatican's ambivalent position regarding its own culpability for the Holocaust is no surprise, after all they are still a defendant in a class action law suit in California for laundering the proceeds of WWII Croatian death camps. See : www.vaticanbankclaims.com for details on the lawsuit.

and don't forget, the current pope was a card carrying member of the hitler youth!

I think its common knowledge at this point in history that the Pope not only stood back and the watched the genocide of the Jews but indirectly contributed to it. There is documented evidence which suggests correspondence between the Pope and Hitler. Moreover, several books have been written about it.

Just what kind of example does this set for Catholics if the representatives from the Vatican refuse to admit the moral failings of Pope Pius during the Holocaust? Pope John Paul II was a brave and moral leader who owned up to the mistakes made by his predecessor during the Holocaust by apologizing to the victims. HIS is the example that should be the standard for all other Vatican leaders to follow.

Franco is just adding insult to injury and it will backfire on him! *sheesh!*

I know I comment too much, but had back surgury and lots of time to sit and read. Anyway, as a Christian, non-denominational, ex-catholic, I have come to realize the damage that "Christians" have done to Jews. I think it is good that true Christians see what wrong has been committed and never forget it. History is history and that can't be changed. It is arrogant that the Vatican wants it changed and makes me think that prior apologies were only temporary. I am sorry for what some "Christians" do and say to hurt Jews as we owe them for the Bible, Prophets and the Messiah. Our roots were from the Jews and we should never forget it. Nor should we forget history so that we don't make the same mistakes again. Accept my apology for those who hurt you and consider that perhaps they are not really Christian. There are many like me how love and support Israel with everything we have. We do believe that God is going to do great things in Israel as He has promised to.

in the annals of world history Pope Pius XII had a friendly relationship with HitlerThe Vatican later when Germany lost the war supported the escape to Latin America many Nazi criminals via "Oddessa" ring

It looks like Vatican never really changed its theological posture vis a vis the Jews despite the pretty words.... From the embrace of Arafat to this, seems like John XXIII never happened. Oh well, looks like Vatican is digging its own grave. As the scriptures say, the Lord will bless those who bless the Jews …e.t.c. No wonder Europe is going under.

now is a time to forgive...germany suffered horribly in that war - and afterword. Their punishment is long over its time to show visiters the future and show everyone the technion - not the shoa memorial

Who does the Vatican represent? The Horse (Hesus) of the prophecies? They think he came to bring peace - "I have not come to bring peace", Jesus said. One day they will kill you for my namesake, Jesus said about his fallen Jew (Christian) followers-he was speaking to Jews in temple doing Torah. What don't people understand about Deut 13? Get yee behind me...you shall be the foundation of my Church! The Vatican should and will one day proclaim their role in fullfilling the prophecies and Torah. Someone has to fullfill the curses or Torah has no weight. Paying for sins - through the blood of the first begotten son. For now they put on a shinny face. Choose life and a blessing. Israel is the first begotten son. There shall be no other gods besides the G-d of Israel. As Jesus said, know the father and return to Torah. At least to those who passed his test questions.

How can I say this? Groups of people when one of their own gets in trouble have been known to circle the wagons. Some will say to the outsiders, 'he may be a bastard, but, he's our bastard'. Something like the OJ jury, 'he may be a murderer, but, he's our murderer'. Andrew, do I detect an attempt to deflect. They may be exterminators, but, they're our exterminators.

The Vad Yashem commemoration is, among other things, a showcase for political propaganda. The Vatican, whose experience in political propaganda is 2,000 years older than Israel's, is not about to fall into such a crude trap. Nor is it about to open its archives to any but friendly etes.

What about the many 'Catholic Countries' which so so enthusiastically partnered with Germany? Croatia?, Ukraine? Slovakia?... This was not coincidence. It's is time the church confronts this instead of just trying to blur it into a greater European phenomena. Or how about actively confronting contemporary antisemitism in Latin America where they have so much influence. For consideration, Josef Cohen

WHat ambassodor is that ? The Israeli Foreign Affairs of Israel that approves diplomatic status entry and stay to foreign countries diplomatic and non-diplomatic staff to Isarel should just revoke their status and diplomatically tell them to leave Israel and never return again under any designation ! If the Vatican cant respect the history and dignity of the Israeli Jewish People, then the Vatican need not have a consulate in Israel ! Tell them to get out of Israel. Tell thme to stay at their holi land in Vatican. The perogative powers of Israel should prevail . Enough is enough, these catholics are such a pain on our hearts to date !

Ynet, The word is 'because' . . . Anyway, as someone said, they are guilty as 'sin'; if not, what are they hiding in those archives? And why does Ynet fail to publish the 'offending' pic's caption? What the bleep does it say, hmm???

that the catholics did not stand aside in silence while the Holocaust went on. But just in case: When the Nazis attempted to "extend" their "solution" to other "undesirables" such as mental-hospital patients, the church rose up and raised a huge commotion which forced the Nazis to stop the murder of those. As for the Jews, of course, no such cry ever rose from the Vatican. Keep running away from the truth, with so many years of experience, your skills in hiding the truth should be very good. But the public is not stupid. That's why "The Da-Vinci Code" - which is of course fiction - was so popular - because it represents - even if with a fictional plot - an idea which is not so fictional maybe - the attempt by the church to hide the truth in general.

How can U say that YV is a showcase for political propaganda? Remembering the holocaust and the many dead (not only Jews) has nothing to do with politics. What political experience do you admire in the Vatican? When christians where being slaughtered by Romans? During the inquisition? Back in the eighties when JP II called AIDS a punition from god to gays? or lately with the outbreak of pedophile and gay priests? Of course they do not allow anybody (NOT EVEN FRIENDLY ETES) to look into the Vatican behavior during WWII, this would show the world the real face of the Vatican mafia-like ways. PS.:I am not a jew, I was born a christian, but quickly realised that religion is a waste of time and life.

Now they’re going to have to hear about it until a comet hits earth, or until hell freezes over. This is the real punishment/retribution for the guilty parties, but some of them still don’t realize it. Moral: don’t mess with the chosen people they have very long and enduring memories and unrivaled survival stamina.

Pope Pius XII saved many thousands of Jews during WWII. Even hiding many in the Vatican. That is historical fact. He also strongly condemned Nazism in his document "Mitt Brenner Sorge." It is simply wrong and terribly ungrateful to defame him so unfairly.

Why should you worry so much ? You can never understand a Holocaust commemoration. But you DO understand a different political propaganda - that of the Iron Guard. Regarding Vatican's political foxy experience of more than 2000 years, much older than Israel's, as you put it, you are perfectly right. It proves again and again that Vatican has been entangled in politics rather than religion. Don't worry about their archives, we already know the truth about Pope Pius XII.

They asked him ; tell us about THE STOP... He said ; it is 3 stops in 3 stops in 3 stops. They loughed and left.

"catholics did not stand aside in silence." Remember that this is a discussion of Church policy. Many Catholics bravely sheltered Jews. It's important to remember that there's no uniform statement that can be made about the people. That doesn't obviate the fact that the official Church policy was silence, many in the hierarchy were complicit, and the church financially benefited in a number of instances. The Nazis didn't "extend" their solution to mental patients. They learned their skills in mass murder on those mental patients, and some physically handicapped and that was used to extend to the extermination camps. The patients were the proving group that was then extended to the Jewish "Final Solution". The Church didn't cry out seriously about them, just as they didn't to the Final Solution against homosexuals. I think they'd have only been worried if it had been extended to pedophiles...