Vatican criticizes priest's comments blaming Jews for delay in beatification of Pope Pius XII...

The Vatican has condemned as "unjustified and inopportune" a claim by a church official that pressure from Jewish organizations is delaying the beatification of Pope Pius XII, the wartime pontiff who critics say didn't do enough to stop the Holocaust.

The Rev. Peter Gumpel, a German Jesuit who is spearheading Pius' cause, said at a conference in Rome that Pope Benedict XVI was "impressed" by warnings that relations with Jews would be ruined if he put the World War II pontiff on the road to sainthood.Some historians and Jewish groups say Pius didn't do enough to prevent or limit the scope of the Holocaust -the murder of 6 million Jews by the Nazis and their collaborators. The Vatican insists Pius used quiet diplomacy to try to help Jews. More...

See also:

1. French Jews warn Vatican againt Pius XII sainthood...
2. Israel website in 'Nazi pope' row...
3. Controversial bishop, Richard Williamson, refuses to recant Holocaust denial...