Rome, Italy, Sep 17, 2009 / 10:40 am
The Pave The Way Foundation informed Pope Benedict XVI on Wednesday that it has launched an initiative to bestow on Pope Pius XII the title “Righteous Among the Nations”—the highest honor awarded by Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial on behalf of the State of Israel and the Jewish people to non-Jews who risked their lives to save Jews during the Holocaust.
According to L’Osservatore Romano, the announcement was made by Gary Krupp, the founder and president of the foundation dedicated to promoting peace in the world through inter-religious dialogue, at the conclusion of the Wednesday General Audience in the Paul VI Hall.
Krupp also gave the Holy Father a 255-page book on Pius XII that includes copies of some three thousand original documents that were uncovered after extensive investigations.
Krupp explained that the gift was “a gesture of gratitude for the initiatives of Benedict XVI in support of Jewish-Catholic dialogue.”