German-Born Pope to Walk Through Auschwitz Gate

NewsMax ^ | 5/23/06 | AP

[wagglebee]

Pope Benedict will visit the Auschwitz death camp during an upcoming visit to Poland. And when he does, a church official says the Pope will walk into the camp, instead of entering by car.

The German-born Benedict plans to pray at former Auschwitz-Birkenau death camp in southern Poland on Sunday. It's a visit heavy with symbolism on the last day of a four-day trip to the homeland of his predecessor, Pope John Paul.

Benedict initially planned to ride through the Auschwitz gate in his so-called "popemobile."

But he decided to walk once Polish organizers pointed out that Nazi commanders and troops drove through the gate in cars, while inmates were forced to walk.

Up to one and a-half million people, mostly Jews, were killed in gas chambers or died from disease, hunger and forced labor at Auschwitz-Birkenau.

[wagglebee]

His Holiness is certainly doing the right thing.

[wagglebee]

Ping.

[StJacques]

This is more important for Benedict that it would be for any of the other major candidates who were considered for the papacy following the death of John Paul II. I hope he makes a meaningful statement that is well-received.

[SJackson]

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---------------------------

Also today, in reaction to an incident of Nazi grafitti in Palm Beach

The Rev. Michael Driscoll of St. Jude Catholic Church said that while this was considered an isolated incident he warned that "a lot of isolated incidences mount up."

[wagglebee]

Ping.

[billorites]

"German-Born Pope to Walk Through Auschwitz Gate"

Were he to skip or hop would only invite criticism.

[raybbr]

German-Born Pope to Walk Through Auschwitz Gate

I did that already in 1994. What an experience!!! Not something I will ever forget.

[Romanov]

Did Pope John Paul II do this?

I visited Dachau, I don't know what was more of an impact on me - the camp itself or the reactions of German school kids.

[Deepest South]

Please discuss the reaction you observed in the German school kids. Thanks

[Alouette]

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[Romanov]

It was obviously the first time they had been to a camp. Some were crying. Some were whispering to each other and pointing to the pictures of torture. Some couldn't stand the sight and returned to their busses. I can only imagine how terrifying it must have been for them to realize that their grandparents' generation was responsible.

[CheyennePress]

I'm not sure if he walked. I would assume so. He visited way back in 1979.

[Deepest South]

Thank you for that insight

[A.A. Cunningham]

Cardinal Karol Wojtyla (right) walks through the former Nazi prison camp at Auschwitz, in Poland, with Cardinal John J. Krol of Philadelphia and Fr. Walter Ziemba of Orchard Lake, Michigan, after the first government-authorised Mass at the camp on 15th October, 1972.

[A.A. Cunningham]

Cardinal Karol Wojtyla (right) walks through the former Nazi prison camp at Auschwitz, in Poland, with Cardinal John J. Krol of Philadelphia and Fr. Walter Ziemba of Orchard Lake, Michigan, after the first government-authorised Mass at the camp on 15th October, 1972.

[Romanov]

Thanks for the picture! I didn't even realize the significance of walking versus riding. Thank God they do!

[Salvation]

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[NYer]

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[Convert from ECUSA]

Ping!

[timsbella]

Thanks for the ping. Christians and Jews need to stand strong. The world is hard enough on each of us, we don't need to be hard on each other. I pray for his safety given his (correct) choice to walk through the gates. If it goes without incident I wonder how the media will bury the story. It is big news.