Pope to apologize for sins committed by Roman Catholics

On Sunday, Pope John Paul II will kiss a crucifix and symbolically ask God's pardon for centuries of sins committed in the name of the Catholic Church

March 7, 2000
Web posted at: 11:21 p.m. EST (0421 GMT)

In this story: Israel's chief rabbi finds document 'quite disappointing' No sins by church or popes RELATED STORIES, SITES

From staff, wire reports.

VATICAN CITY -- Pope John Paul II will kiss a crucifix on Sunday and issue a historic apology for sins committed in the name of the Roman Catholic Church.

The move, planned as a Day of Pardon Mass at St. Peter's Basilica, will be sweeping, asking for God's forgiveness for centuries' worth of sins.

Confession of sin is a major obligation of all Catholics. But never in its history has the church itself offered such a sweeping acknowledgment of past wrongs committed by its members.

VIDEO CNN's Gayle Young reports on the Vatican's apology for Catholics' past sins. Windows Media 28K 80K     MESSAGE BOARD Religion today

"The church, full of the holiness received from our Lord, kneels before God and implores his pardon for the past and present sins of its children," said Cardinal Roger Etchegaray, president of the Vatican's 2000 Jubilee Committee.

A carefully worded document issued by the Vatican last week explores a multitude of sins committed during the Holocaust, the Inquisition, the Crusades and acts against other Christians in wars of religion.

The Catholic Church, which has sought to improve relations with Judaism, conceded two years ago that some Christians committed sins of omission by not speaking out against the persecution of Jews during World War II.

The new document from the Vatican said it was important to keep a "moral and religious memory" of injury inflicted on Jews.

"In this area, much has already been done, but this should be confirmed and deepened," the document stated.

Some Jews were upset that the Vatican's landmark 1998 document on the Holocaust did not condemn the church hierarchy for any failures to save Jews.

The Vatican and John Paul have consistently defended Pope Pius XII, who served during World War II and is a candidate for beatification.

Israeli Chief Rabbi Israel Meir Lau said the latest reference to the Holocaust was "quite disappointing."

"It adds nothing to the low-key statements made in the past," he said. "It is impossible to correct a crime of the past without any mention, for example, of Pius XII, when he stood on the blood of the victims and did not say a word."

The Vatican document also acknowledges acts of violence and oppression during the Inquisition, when a philosopher was burned at the stake in a Roman piazza.

This philosopher was burned at the stake in a Roman piazza

And the church is seeking forgiveness for those missionaries who may not have respected the world's diverse cultures and religions.

The sweeping confession will include sins against women, the poor, dissidents, ethnic groups and what the church calls 'the unborn,' a reference to abortion.

"The reference to errors and sins in a liturgy must be frank and capable of specifying guilt; yet given the number of sins committed in the course of 20 centuries, it must necessarily be rather summary," said Bishop Piero Marini, who is in charge of papal ceremonies.

The document acknowledges sins only by those acting in the name of the church. It does not acknowledge any sins by the church itself or those who have served as its popes; both are considered infallible.

Some within the church were uncomfortable with the idea of a public prayer for pardon, believing it would detract from the positive achievements of Catholicism throughout the centuries.

But in his years as pontiff, Pope John Paul II has always been a strong believer in public acts of humility and spirituality.

The pope also wants this jubilee year of Christ's birth to be one of renewal for his church. A confession of past sins may give the sense of a fresh start.

Rome Bureau Chief Gayle Young and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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