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OSWIECIM. – Hunched on a bench near the gate to the Auschwitz death camp site in Poland, Pope Francis prayed silently yesterday in tribute to 1,5 million people, most of them Jews, gassed there by Nazi occupiers during World War Two.
Marking the third day of his trip to Poland for an international gathering of Catholic youth, Francis spent a few minutes speaking quietly and exchanging gifts with about 12 Auschwitz survivors, including a 101-year-old woman.
One of the male survivors gave the Pope a picture of himself surrounded by other inmates in a bunk, and asked Francis to sign it. The somber-looking Pope kissed each survivor.
The Argentine-born pontiff (79) made no statement as he proceeded to walk through the barely-lit corridors of the drab, brick building of Auschwitz Block 11 which had housed prisoners selected for special punishment. – Reuters.
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