Pope expresses shame on Slovak Shoah role

Pope Francis has said “the name of God was dishonoured” as he led a memorial to more than 100,000 Slovak Jews killed during the Shoah.

Speaking on Monday, the pontiff said it was shameful how those who said they believed in God could perpetuate or permit “unspeakable acts of inhumanity” against minorities during the war, notably Jews.

The ceremony took place at the site of a former Slovakian synagogue demolished during the post-war communist era, ostensibly to make room for a bridge. Francis said the real reason was “to cancel every trace of the (Jewish) community”. 

He said: “Here, in this place, the name of God was dishonoured… Here, reflecting on the history of the Jewish people marked by this tragic affront to the most high, we admit with shame how often his name has been used
for unspeakable acts of inhumanity.”