Francis says Pius XII's "beatification" won't go ahead

NICOLE WINFIELD

timesofisrael.com

"Pope Francis remained firm in his refusal to allow the beatification of Pope Pius XII, the World War II-era pope accused by some Jews of not speaking out enough against the Holocaust, because he doesn’t have enough miracles in his record.

As he flew from Ben-Gurion International Airport Monday night at the conclusion of two day visit to Israel, Francis spoke of his position on the matter and made it clear that, for the time being, the beatification won’t go ahead.

'There’s still no miracle,' he said. 'If there are no miracles, it can’t go forward. It’s blocked there.'

One of the more poignant moments of Francis’ pilgrimage came earlier in the day when he visited the Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial in Jerusalem and kissed the hands of survivors in a show of humility and respect. Francis said his gesture came spontaneously.

'The gestures that are the most authentic you don’t think about ahead of time,' he said on Monday during a press conference during the papal flight back to Rome."