Pope Benedict on Wednesday reaffirmed his "full and unquestionable solidarity" with Jews while SSPX Archbishop Bernard Fellay has silenced Holocaust minimising Bishop Richard Williamson over his remarks.
Speaking at his Wednesday audience, the German born pope said the attempt to exterminate the Jews in the Holocaust should remain a warning for all people, The International Herald Tribune reports.
The pope said: "While I renew with affection the expression of my full and unquestionable solidarity with our (Jewish) brothers, I hope the memory of the Shoah will induce humanity to reflect on the unpredictable power of hate when it conquers the heart of man."
Shoah is the Hebrew word for the Holocaust.
The pope, who did not mention Williamson by name, said the Holocaust should remain for all a "warning against denial and reductionism."
More criticism from Jewish leaders
Williamson's comments caused a storm of criticism from Jews, who say it set back Catholic-Jewish dialogue by half a century.
Elie Wiesel, the death camp survivor, author and Nobel Peace Prize winner said Pope Benedict has given credence to "the most vulgar aspect of anti-Semitism" by rehabilitating a Holocaust denying bishop.
Wiesel told Reuters that there was no way the Vatican could have not known about the bishop's past and it may have been done "intentionally."
The Chief Rabbinate of Israel has also indefinitely broken off relations with the Vatican over the lifting of the excommunications, ANSA says.
The move was announced by the Chief Rabbinate director general, Oded Weiner, who also said that a March 2-4 meeting in Rome with the Catholic Church's Commission for Religious Relations with Jews had been cancelled.
News of the rabbinate's decision appeared first on the Jerusalem Post website and the pope quickly responded by reiterating his full support for his "Jewish brothers" and said the Holocaust must not be denied because ''the memory of the Shoah regenerates our humanity and helps us reflect on the unexpected power which evil can exert on the hearts of man''.
Vatican spokesman Father Federico Lombardo expressed his hope that the pope's words would be "more than sufficient for anyone who had any doubts over the views of the Holy Father and the Church" on the Holocaust.
He added that he also hoped that this will be sufficient to avoid any break in relations between the Holy See and the Rabbinate.
The Jerusalem Post also called in an editorial for Israel's ambassador to the Holy See to be recalled for consultations.
SSPX apologises
On Tuesday the head of the society of Pius X, Bishop Bernard Fellay, denied that Williamson's views reflected those of the order and apologised to the pope for any problems his statements may have created.
He apologised to Pope Benedict XVI and those of "good faith" following Williamson's remarks, in a statement released by the Vatican on Tuesday.
"The declarations of Monsignor Williamson do not reflect in any way the position of our society. That is why I forbade him, until new order, from taking any public stances on political or historical questions," he said.
"We ask forgiveness to the Sovereign Pontiff and all the men of good will for the dramatic consequences of such an act," the statement said.
The Vatican released a statement from Bishop Fellay, superior of the Priestly Fraternity of St. Pius X and one of the four traditionalist bishops whose excommunication was rescinded in a Jan. 21 decree from the Congregation for Bishops.
In his statement Bishop Fellay said "It's clear that a Catholic bishop cannot speak with ecclesiastical authority except on questions that regard faith and morals. Our Fraternity does not claim any authority on other matters. Its mission is the propagation and restoration of authentic Catholic doctrine, expressed in the dogmas of the faith. It's for this reason that we are known, accepted and respected in the entire world.
"It's with great sadness that we recognise the extent to which the violation of this mandate has done damage to our mission. The affirmations of Bishop Williamson do not reflect in any sense the position of our Fraternity. For this reason I have prohibited him, pending any new orders, from taking any public positions on political or historical questions.
"We ask the forgiveness of the Supreme Pontiff, and of all people of good will, for the dramatic consequences of this act. Because we recognise how ill-advised these declarations were, we can only look with sadness at the way in which they have directly struck our Fraternity, discrediting its mission.
"This is something we cannot accept, and we declare that we will continue to preach Catholic doctrine and to administer the sacraments of grace of Our Lord Jesus Christ.
More Catholic reaction
The Swiss bishops' conference said the traditionalist bishop's remarks "worsened concerns" over the "deep divergences" between the society and the Catholic Church.
The Swiss bishops condemned Bishop Williamson's comments and apologized to the Jewish community in Switzerland for the upsetting episode.
"Those who know Benedict XVI and his positive attitude toward Judaism know that the indefensible ravings of Bishop Williamson will not be tolerated," they said.
Matthias Kopp, spokesman for the German bishops' conference, told German television that, "sooner or later, Williamson will have to take back his statements," which he called unacceptable.
SOURCES
Pope reaches out to Jews angered by bishop's Holocaust statement (International Herald Tribune)
Breaking News: Holocaust denier bishop gagged (National Catholic Reporter)
Rabbinate cuts ties with Vatican (ANSA)
Vatican highlights pope's Holocaust condemnations (Associated Press)
Holocaust denial by traditionalist bishop is unacceptable, says Vatican (Catholic News Service)
Swiss bishops warn traditionalists on Holocaust denial (Expatica)
Pope reaffirms 'solidarity' with Jews amid row over bishop who denied Holocaust (Haaretz)
Bishops criticise Holocaust denier (Swissinfo)
Iudicium perversum (Jerusalem Post)
The Pope and the Anti-Semitic Bishop - The Real Story (Fox News)