An Israeli minister slammed controversial plans to make Pope Pius XII a saint, citing claims the wartime pontiff failed to speak out over the Holocaust.
"The intent to turn Pius XII into a saint is unacceptable," Social Affairs Minister Isaac Herzog told the Haaretz newspaper in comments published on Thursday.
"Throughout the period of the Holocaust, the Vatican knew very well what was happening in Europe. Yet there is no evidence of any step being taken by the pope as the stature of the Holy See should have mandated," said Herzog, whose is also in charge of ties with Christian communities.
"The attempt to turn him into a saint is an exploitation of forgetfulness and lack of awareness," the minister said.
Earlier this month Pope Benedict XVI defended the memory of Pius at a mass to mark the 50th anniversary of his death and said he wanted him beatified soon -- a first step towards declaring him a saint. He insisted Pius spared no effort in the defence of the persecuted but often acted in silence.
His statements rekindled controversy over the Nazi-era pontiff, and the priest in charge of the dossier eventually said Benedict was hesitating over approving beatification out of concern for "good relations" with Jews.
Copyright 2008 AFP Global Edition
