Jerusalem, March 23, 2000…The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) today welcomed Pope John Paul II’s visit and words at Yad Vashem as a powerful demonstration of the Pope’s personal solidarity with the victims of the Holocaust.

In this context, the Pope in his address reaffirmed what he described as the deep sadness of the Church for "hatred, acts of persecution and displays of anti-Semitism directed against Jews by Christians."

"We deeply appreciate the Pope’s historic contribution to Christian contrition for past attitudes towards the Jewish people that made the soil fertile for the Shoah, and for his profound commitment to Catholic-Jewish reconciliation," said Rabbi David Rosen, Director of ADL’s Israel office.

The Anti-Defamation League, founded in 1913, is the world's leading organization fighting anti-Semitism through programs and services that counteract hatred, prejudice and bigotry.