German cardinal says pope's decision to visit synagogue is important

Published: 2005-07-05

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope Benedict XVI's decision to visit a synagogue in Cologne, Germany, during his visit for World Youth Day is an important gesture for a German-born pope to make, said Cardinal Joachim Meisner of Cologne. During a July 5 press conference at Vatican Radio, the cardinal confirmed that Pope Benedict would visit the Cologne synagogue during his Aug. 18-21 stay in Germany. "With a German pope visiting his homeland for the first time and during the year marking the 60th anniversary of the end of World War II, which has left its traces," the pope's decision to accept the Cologne Jewish community's invitation was important, the cardinal said. "The Holocaust is still a bleeding wound in Germany. This is a very important gesture," Cardinal Meisner said.

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