Rev. Raniero Cantalamessa delivers the Good Friday homily during a service celebrated by Pope Benedict XVI in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican on April 2. The Vatican preacher has apologized for a remark he made during the speech where he compared recent attacks on the pope over child abuse scandals to anti-Semitism. (Christophe Simon/AFP/Getty Images)MOREHIDE
Rev. Raniero Cantalamessa delivers the Good Friday homily during a service celebrated by Pope Benedict XVI in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican on April 2. The Vatican preacher has apologized for a remark he made during the speech where he compared recent attacks on the pope over child abuse scandals to anti-Semitism. (Christophe Simon/AFP/Getty Images)In his Good Friday sermon, Father Raniero Cantalamessa, preacher to the Papal Household, said it was not his intention to offend the Jewish community or the victims of pedophilia when he quoted a letter from a Jewish friend that compared recent attacks on the pope over child abuse scandals, to anti-Semitism.
He quoted his friend saying, “The use of stereotypes, the passing from personal responsibility and guilt to a collective guilt remind me of the more shameful aspects of anti-Semitism."
Cantalamessa said that the pope had no prior knowledge of the remarks and that his intention with the remark was to affirm solidarity with the Jews. “I sincerely regret [the remark] and ask forgiveness,” he said.
Jewish groups around the world were angered at the comment; some saying that Cantalamessa’s choice of words were inappropriate, and that the remark trivialized the persecution of the Jews, according to Canadian Press.
