Pope visits Auschwitz

OSWIECIM, Poland (AP) Pope Francis paid a somber visit in silence to the Nazi German death camp of Auschwitz Birkenau on Friday, with his only public comment a guest book entry begging God for so much cruelty. Argentine born pontiff made an early morning pilgrimage to the place where Adolf Hitler forces killed more than 1 million people, most of them Jews, during World War II.

Francis entered the camp on foot, walking slowly in his white robes beneath the canada goose outlet uk notorious gate at https://www.doloresnet.com Auschwitz that bears official canada goose outlet the cynical words Macht Frei (Work sets you free). the 11 survivors he met briefly was a woman in her mid 90s who helped deliver babies born to Auschwitz women; another, 101, played the violin in an orchestra the death camp.

Francis moved on to nearby Birkenau, a sprawling complex where people were murdered in factory like fashion in its gas chambers. canada goose outlet There he greeted 25 Holocaust rescuers, including a woman who as a child helped her mother smuggle in bread in their handbags to Jews forced by Nazi occupiers to stay in Warsaw ghetto.

Altogether, it was a deeply contemplative and private visit of nearly two hours that Francis passed in total silence, except for a few words canada goose outlet in usa he exchanged cheap Canada Goose with the survivors and rescuers.

Vatican and Polish church officials said Francis wanted to express his sorrow in silence at the site, mourning the victims in quiet canada goose prayer and meditation.

However, he did express his feelings, writing in the Auschwitz memorial guest book canada goose outlet in Spanish: have mercy on your people! Lord, forgiveness for so much cruelty! He then signed with his name in Latin, and added canada goose black friday sale the date is the first pope to visit canada goose uk black friday Auschwitz who did not himself live through the brutality of World War II on Europe soil.

Both of his predecessors had a personal or historical connection to the site. St. John Paul II, born in Poland, witnessed the unspeakable suffering inflicted on his nation during the German occupation during the war. His successor, Pope Benedict XVI, who visited in 2006, was a German who served in the Hitler Youth for a cheap canada goose uk time as a teenager.

Francis prayed silently for more than canada goose outlet store 15 minutes before greeting survivors one by one, shaking their hands and kissing them on the cheeks. He then carried a large white candle cheap canada goose to the Death Wall, where prisoners canada goose outlet new york city at Auschwitz canada goose outlet online were executed.

At the dark underground prison cell that once housed St. Maximilian Kolbe, a Polish friar who sacrificed his life to save that of a fellow prisoner who had a canada goose coats family, Francis prayed again. A few shafts from a tiny window were the only light cast on the pontiff.

He then traveled 2 miles (3 kilometers) to Birkenau, the vast satellite camp where the Nazis murdered Jews, Roma and others from across Europe.

Invited guests, among them camp survivors and Christian Poles who saved Jews during the war, stood in respect as the pope arrived, his vehicle driving parallel to the rail tracks once used to transport victims to their deaths there.

At one point the deep silence was broken by the wailing of an infant.

When Francis arrived, the hundreds of guests applauded. Francis slowly observed each of the memorial plaques in the 23 languages used by the inmates.

Poland chief rabbi, Michael Schudrich, then recited, in Hebrew, Psalm 130, which starts: the depths I have cried out to you, O Lord. clasped his hands and bent his head as the psalm was read, first canada goose outlet jackets by the rabbi and then by a priest in Polish.

John Paul visit to the site in 1979 made history because it was the first ever by a pontiff, part of the Vatican historical efforts at reconciliation with canada goose factory sale Jews.

As a pope hailing from another continent, Francis presence highlights visit the universal importance of a site that in recent years has Canada Goose sale drawn ever more visitors from around the world. The Canada Goose Outlet millions who now visit have put increasing stress on the site aging barracks, prompting urgent conservation efforts that are being funded by governments worldwide.

Francis visit is also different in that it had a private character with no speeches. Benedict, for instance, spoke there in canada goose outlet shop 2006 in Italian pointedly avoiding his native German language in a speech questioning why God was silent at the slaughter of so many.

The pope visit to Auschwitz came on the third day of a five day visit to Poland that includes meetings with young pilgrims taking part in World Youth Day, a global celebration of faith.

Francis devoted Friday to the theme of suffering. He also visited a pediatric hospital in Krakow and canada goose outlet uk sale in the evening was presiding over a Way of the Cross with the young people.