|
Pope Benedict XVI- Apostolic Journey to the Holy Land |
"May
the Names of These Victims Never Perish"
Address at the Yad Vashem Memorial to the Victims of the
Holocaust
H.H. Benedict XVI
Jerusalem, Israel
May 11, 2009
"I will give in my house and within my walls a memorial and a name
... I will give them an everlasting name which shall not be cut off"
(Is 56:5).
This passage from the Book of the prophet Isaiah furnishes the two
simple words which solemnly express the profound significance of
this revered place: yad - "memorial"; shem - "name". I have come to
stand in silence before this monument, erected to honor the memory
of the millions of Jews killed in the horrific tragedy of the Shoah.
They lost their lives, but they will never lose their names: these
are indelibly etched in the hearts of their loved ones, their
surviving fellow prisoners, and all those determined never to allow
such an atrocity to disgrace mankind again. Most of all, their names
are forever fixed in the memory of Almighty God.
One can rob a neighbor of possessions, opportunity or freedom. One
can weave an insidious web of lies to convince others that certain
groups are undeserving of respect. Yet, try as one might, one can
never take away the name of a fellow human being.
Sacred Scripture teaches us the importance of names in conferring
upon someone a unique mission or a special gift. God called Abram
"Abraham" because he was to become the "father of many nations"
(Gen17:5). Jacob was called "Israel" because he had "contended with
God and man and prevailed" (Gen32:29). The names enshrined in this
hallowed monument will forever hold a sacred place among the
countless descendants of Abraham. Like his, their faith was tested.
Like Jacob, they were immersed in the struggle to discern the
designs of the Almighty. May the names of these victims never
perish! May their suffering never be denied, belittled or forgotten!
And may all people of goodwill remain vigilant in rooting out from
the heart of man anything that could lead to tragedies such as this!
The Catholic Church, committed to the teachings of Jesus and intent
on imitating his love for all people, feels deep compassion for the
victims remembered here. Similarly, she draws close to all those who
today are subjected to persecution on account of race, color,
condition of life or religion - their sufferings are hers, and hers
is their hope for justice. As Bishop of Rome and Successor of the
Apostle Peter, I reaffirm - like my predecessors - that the Church
is committed to praying and working tirelessly to ensure that hatred
will never reign in the hearts of men again. The God of Abraham,
Isaac and Jacob is the God of peace (cf. Ps 85:9).
The Scriptures teach that it is our task to remind the world that
this God lives, even though we sometimes find it difficult to grasp
his mysterious and inscrutable ways. He has revealed himself and
continues to work in human history. He alone governs the world with
righteousness and judges all peoples with fairness (cf. Ps 9:9).
Gazing upon the faces reflected in the pool that lies in stillness
within this memorial, one cannot help but recall how each of them
bears a name. I can only imagine the joyful expectation of their
parents as they anxiously awaited the birth of their children. What
name shall we give this child? What is to become of him or her? Who
could have imagined that they would be condemned to such a
deplorable fate!
As we stand here in silence, their cry still echoes in our hearts.
It is a cry raised against every act of injustice and violence. It
is a perpetual reproach against the spilling of innocent blood. It
is the cry of Abel rising from the earth to the Almighty. Professing
our steadfast trust in God, we give voice to that cry using words
from the Book of Lamentations which are full of significance for
both Jews and Christians:
"The favors of the Lord are not exhausted, his mercies are not
spent;
They are renewed each morning, so great is his faithfulness.
My portion is the Lord, says my soul; therefore will I hope in him.
Good is the Lord to the one who waits for him, to the soul that
seeks him;
It is good to hope in silence for the saving help of the Lord" (Lam
3:22-26).
My dear friends, I am deeply grateful to God and to you for the
opportunity to stand here in silence: a silence to remember, a
silence to pray, a silence to hope.
© Innovative Media, Inc.
Look
at the One they Pierced!
This page is the work of the Servants of the Pierced Hearts of Jesus and
Mary
