Holocaust

The Latest

The ancient Portico d'Ottavia in the heart of Rome's Jewish ghetto was the site of the March for Remembrance on Oct. 16, 2023.

Rome remembers 80th anniversary of Nazis’ expulsion of the city’s Jews 

Oct 17, 2023

By Matthew Santucci

This annual event has been held for the past 30 years and is jointly organized by the Catholic community of... Read more

Wiktoria Ulma with six of her children.

Beatification date announced for married couple with seven children martyred by Nazis

Feb 15, 2023

By Courtney Mares

The entire Ulma family, including one newborn baby, will be beatified in Markowa, Poland. Read more

Religious leaders mark the 77th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau at the death camp, Jan. 27, 2022.

Religious leaders mark Auschwitz liberation anniversary

Jan 28, 2022

By CNA Staff

Polish Bishop Piotr Greger was among those who offered prayers at the commemoration. Read more

Pope Francis meets with Holocaust survivor Edith Bruck at the Vatican’s Casa Santa Marta, Jan. 27, 2022.

Pope Francis meets Auschwitz survivor on Holocaust Remembrance Day

Jan 27, 2022

By CNA Staff

The Vatican said they ‘both stressed the inestimable value of transmitting the memory of the past to the youngest.’ Read more

A monument at the Jewish cemetery in Izbica, Poland.

Father Gregor Pawlowski, Jewish Holocaust survivor and Catholic priest, laid to rest in Poland

Nov 14, 2021

By Kevin J. Jones

Father Gregor Pawlowski died in Israel Oct. 21 at the age of 90, but he wanted his body to be... Read more

Cardinal Eugene Tisserant, who was dean of the College of Cardinals from 1951 to 1972, and has been named Righteous Among the Nations by Yad Vashem.

Yad Vashem: Vatican librarian Cardinal Tisserant made heroic efforts to save Jews

Oct 23, 2021

By Kevin J. Jones

Cardinal Eugene Tisserant was a librarian who knew more than 10 languages, advised multiple popes, and held key Vatican positions. Read more

The Franciscan friar Fr. Placido Cortese (1907-1944).

Pope Francis advances sainthood cause of Italian Catholic priest who saved Jews in WWII

Aug 30, 2021

By Courtney Mares

Fr. Placido Cortese has been dubbed “the Italian Fr. Kolbe.” Read more

Pope Pius XII / public domain

Expert’s latest investigation dispels myths about Pius XII and Rome's Jews

Aug 29, 2021

By Andrea Gagliarducci

Pope Pius XII was not silent in front of the Shoah nor inactive. He was, instead, very much committed to... Read more

The Umschlagplatz Monument in Warsaw, Poland, where more than 300,000 Jews were transported from the Warsaw Ghetto to Nazi death camps.

Polish Catholic bishop: Warsaw Ghetto Uprising anniversary is ‘an appeal to love one’s neighbor’

Apr 19, 2021

The uprising -- the largest single Jewish revolt of World War II -- was launched 78 years ago Read more

Fr. Marceli Godlewski. Credit: Franciscan Sisters of the Family of Mary, Warsaw.

How a Catholic pastor saved hundreds of his Jewish neighbors in the Warsaw Ghetto

Jan 27, 2021

Before the war, Fr. Marceli Godlewski seemed an unlikely candidate to be honored as “Righteous Among the Nations.” But he... Read more

Pope Francis at his general audience address in the library of the Apostolic Palace Jan. 27, 2021. Credit: Vatican Media.

Pope Francis on Holocaust Remembrance Day: ‘These things can happen again’

Jan 27, 2021

Pope Francis said on Wednesday that commemorating the Holocaust means to be aware that “these things can happen again.”   Read more

Pope Pius XII. Public domain.

Scholars dispute charge of Pius XII Holocaust cover-up

May 1, 2020

By JD Flynn

Scholars say charges made last month that Pope Pius XII covered-up the Vatican’s knowledge of the Holocaust are based on... Read more

Documents from the Pontificate of Pius XII released by the Vatican Apostolic Archive.

Scholar hopes Vatican archives will give 'fuller, transparent' picture of Pius XII

Mar 15, 2020

By Christine Rousselle

A researcher from the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum told CNA that she hopes the recent opening of the Pius... Read more

Pope Francis prays at Auschwitz July 29, 2016.

'Never again': Pope Francis calls for prayer on Holocaust Remembrance Day

Jan 27, 2020

By Courtney Mares

Pope Francis has asked for people to spend a moment in prayer and recollection on Monday for International Holocaust Remembrance... Read more

Victims of genocide at the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp.

75 years after Auschwitz liberation, Europe's bishops condemn anti-Semitism, call for peace

Jan 25, 2020

Seventy-five years after the liberation of the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp, the Catholic bishops of Europe condemned racism, xenophobia, and anti-Semitism,... Read more

Irena Sendler.

Film to portray Catholic woman who saved Jewish children in WWII 

Dec 23, 2019

The true story of Irena Sendler, a Polish Catholic woman who helped smuggle thousands of Jewish children out of the... Read more

Dachau concentration camp.

‘Secret preacher’ of Dachau concentration camp beatified

Sep 19, 2019

By Courtney Mares

The ‘secret preacher of block 17’ who witnessed to Christ in a Nazi concentration camp was beatified this week in... Read more

Sister Cecylia Maria Roszak.

Polish nun who helped saved Jews during Holocaust dies at 110

Nov 21, 2018

Believed to be the “oldest nun in the world,” Polish Dominican nun Sister Cecylia Maria Roszak has died at the... Read more

Pope Francis celebrates Mass in Kaunas, Lithuania Sept. 23, 2018.

Pope Francis: Christian life always includes the cross

Sep 23, 2018

By Hannah Brockhaus

As can be seen throughout history, the life of a Christian cannot escape the sacrifices and sorrows of the cross,... Read more

Jose Arturo Castellanos.

The El Salvadoran who helped rescue 40,000 Jews from the Holocaust

Jul 30, 2017

José Arturo Castellanos was a Catholic from El Salvador who during the Second World War was sent as a diplomat... Read more