Pope’s Call for a World Free of Anti-Semitism

Pope Leo, during his audience on Wednesday, urged for a world devoid of anti-Semitism, prejudice, and oppression. His remarks coincided with International Holocaust Remembrance Day, observed just a day earlier.

At the Vatican’s Paul VI Hall, the pope reflected on the January 27 commemoration, which honors the millions of Jews and others who were murdered. He referred to it as a “once-a-year occasion of painful remembrance,” urging global vigilance against the horrors of genocide to ensure they are never repeated.

“I ask Almighty God for the gift of a world where there will be no more anti-Semitism, no more prejudice, oppression, and persecution against all human beings,” the pope stated.

International Holocaust Remembrance Day marks the anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp in 1945. The Holocaust led to the systematic murder of six million Jews and millions of others during World War II.

The pope also addressed journalists after leaving his residence in Castel Gandolfo on January 27. He discussed rising tensions in the region and the deployment of a US aircraft carrier. Amid ongoing protests and violence in Iran, he highlighted the importance of “praying fervently for peace.”

“We the little ones can always raise our voices and call for dialogue rather than violence to solve problems, especially on this day of commemoration of the Shoah,” he added.

Additionally, in a post commemorating the Holocaust Memorial, Pope Leo reaffirmed the Catholic Church’s commitment to the principles of Nostra Aetate. This declaration from Vatican II denounces all forms of anti-Semitism. He emphasized that the Church opposes any discrimination based on ethnicity, language, nationality, or religion, advocating for dialogue as a way to resolve conflicts.

Fox News Digital has reached out to the Vatican for further comments.