Pope on Holocaust Remembrance Day: Hatred and violence deny our humanity

By Francesca Merlo

Pope Francis has released a message on Holocaust Remembrance Day, stressing that the logic of hatred is never justified.

"Be aware," the Pope has warned, "of how this path of death, extermination and brutality began."

"Remembrance is an expression of humanity," continues the Pope.

"Remembrance is a sign of civilization," he adds. "Remembrance is a condition for a better future of peace and fraternity." 

Pope Francis on X

In a post on X (formerly Twitter) published on Saturday, the Holy Father writes:

May our remembrance and condemnation of the horrible extermination of millions of Jews and people of other faiths, during the last century, help us all not forget that hatred and violence can never be justified, because it denies our very humanity. #WeRemember

Hatred denies humanity

During his General Audience on Wednesday, Pope Francis had already recalled the importance of Holocaust Remembrance Day, which is commemorated annually on 27 January.

During that audience, the Holy Father asked that "the remembrance and condemnation of this terrible extermination of millions of Jews and people of other faiths might help everyone not to forget that the logic of hatred and violence can never be justified because it denies our own humanity."