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Pope to meet angry Jewish leaders Pope to meet angry Jewish leaders
(about 1 hour later)
Pope Benedict XVI is to meet American Jewish leaders for the first face-to- face talks since a row erupted over a Holocaust-denying bishop.Pope Benedict XVI is to meet American Jewish leaders for the first face-to- face talks since a row erupted over a Holocaust-denying bishop.
Catholic-Jewish relations have soured since 24 January, when the Pope lifted the excommunication of renegade Bishop Richard Williamson.Catholic-Jewish relations have soured since 24 January, when the Pope lifted the excommunication of renegade Bishop Richard Williamson.
Comments by the bishop then came to light in which he denied any Jews died in Nazi gas chambers.Comments by the bishop then came to light in which he denied any Jews died in Nazi gas chambers.
The Pope is under pressure to take a strong stand against anti-Semitism.The Pope is under pressure to take a strong stand against anti-Semitism.
One of the Jewish leaders set to attend the meeting, Abraham Foxman, told the BBC: "I would hope that he would not only talk about the Holocaust, not only condemn Holocaust denial as anti-Semitism, but I think he would say Bishop Williamson has had enough time to publicly recant and disown and disavow his views; and since he hasn't, he's back to be[ing] excommunicated."One of the Jewish leaders set to attend the meeting, Abraham Foxman, told the BBC: "I would hope that he would not only talk about the Holocaust, not only condemn Holocaust denial as anti-Semitism, but I think he would say Bishop Williamson has had enough time to publicly recant and disown and disavow his views; and since he hasn't, he's back to be[ing] excommunicated."
Jewish leaders will not hide their displeasure when they meet Pope Benedict, says the BBC's David Willey in Rome.
TV interviewTV interview
Bishop Williamson was among four ultraconservative bishops - all members of the traditionalist Society of St Pius X (SSPX) - whose excommunications were lifted last month, in a bid by the Pope to end a schism that began in 1988 when they were ordained without Vatican permission.Bishop Williamson was among four ultraconservative bishops - all members of the traditionalist Society of St Pius X (SSPX) - whose excommunications were lifted last month, in a bid by the Pope to end a schism that began in 1988 when they were ordained without Vatican permission.
Bishop Williamson has not recanted his remarksBut it was then revealed that Bishop Williamson, who was born in Britain, had given an interview to a Swedish television programme last November, in which he disputed that six million Jews had died at the hands of the Nazis, and claimed that none had died in gas chambers.Bishop Williamson has not recanted his remarksBut it was then revealed that Bishop Williamson, who was born in Britain, had given an interview to a Swedish television programme last November, in which he disputed that six million Jews had died at the hands of the Nazis, and claimed that none had died in gas chambers.
He said: "I believe there were no gas chambers," and insisted that up to "300,000 Jews perished in Nazi concentration camps but none of them by gas chambers".He said: "I believe there were no gas chambers," and insisted that up to "300,000 Jews perished in Nazi concentration camps but none of them by gas chambers".
The Pope said he had not known about Bishop Williamson's views, but observers say they were not secret. The Pope said he had not known about Bishop Williamson's views - a stance that Elena Curti, deputy editor of the Tablet Catholic newspaper, told the BBC was "extraordinary".
They were "well known, it seems, to virtually everybody else", she said.
Bishop Williamson has since apologised for the controversy he has caused, and has been removed from his post as the head of a Roman Catholic seminary in Argentina.Bishop Williamson has since apologised for the controversy he has caused, and has been removed from his post as the head of a Roman Catholic seminary in Argentina.
But he has refused to recant his remarks, despite an order from the Vatican to do so - reportedly telling one magazine he had to review the "evidence" on the Holocaust before doing so. But he has refused to recant his remarks, despite an order from the Vatican to do so - merely saying he will re-examine the evidence on the Holocaust.
'Crime''Crime'
The Pope will exchange addresses with some 60 Jewish leaders when they meet at the Vatican on Thursday, and observers will be watching to see how far he goes to distance himself not only from the remarks of Bishop Williamson, but the SSPX organisation as a whole.The Pope will exchange addresses with some 60 Jewish leaders when they meet at the Vatican on Thursday, and observers will be watching to see how far he goes to distance himself not only from the remarks of Bishop Williamson, but the SSPX organisation as a whole.
"I'm just surprised how long it's taking the Vatican to repair this mistake," Mr Foxman said."I'm just surprised how long it's taking the Vatican to repair this mistake," Mr Foxman said.
"Holocaust denial in many countries is a crime, so it's not only an insult to the Jewish community, it's not only an insult to survivors of whom I am one, but in some places it's also a criminal act.""Holocaust denial in many countries is a crime, so it's not only an insult to the Jewish community, it's not only an insult to survivors of whom I am one, but in some places it's also a criminal act."