Rome, Italy, Jun 19, 2008 / 10:43 am
The L’Osservatore Romano reported this week that during the Wednesday General Audience, a group of Holocaust survivors who are part of the Pave the Way Foundation greeted Pope Benedict XVI and announced they would organizing a symposium in September of this year on “the important help Pius XII gave to the Jews” during World War II.
Garry Krupp, president of the Foundation, said the symposium would be held in Rome September 15-18 and would be dedicated to studying Pope Pius XII’s efforts to save Jews. He said his attendance at the audience, together with the Holocaust survivors, was “an expression of gratitude to Pope Pacelli to commemorate the 50th anniversary of his death.”
Benedict XVI stopped to greet each member of the group one by one.
The Pope also was greeted by Mame Mor Mbacke, a Senegalese Muslim leader, who expressed his desire to work for peace and justice with Christians. He was also greeted by Samart Sue and his large family, who financed the construction of 50 churches in Thailand.