Benedict's Anguished Cry

The following from CBC.ca:

---Pope Benedict XVI visited Auschwitz on Sunday, walking through the
gates in the footsteps of more than a million Jews, Poles, Roma, gays and
others who were killed at the Nazi concentration camp.

The German-born Pope, who was on the fourth and last day of a visit to
Poland, walked alone and in silence.

But later, he spoke up. "To speak in this place of horror, in this place
where unprecedented mass crimes were committed against God and man, is
almost impossible, and it is particularly difficult and troubling for
a Christian, for a pope from Germany," he said.

"In a place like this, words fail; in the end, there can be only a dread
silence, a silence which itself is a heartfelt cry to God: Why, Lord, did
you remain silent? How could you tolerate all this?"

Good questions.

God's rep. on earth scolding the boss, the all-just and all-merciful, who sees every sparrow that falls. I'm willing to believe that the Pope's anguish was heart felt and sincere. Those who censure him for having joined the Hitler youth may think otherwise. The news release says he was forced to join. "Forced" may be a bit strong, but no doubt there was pressure, it may have been "the thing to do", peer pressure, nationalism, etc. What would I, as an ignorant youth, have done in those circumstances? I hate to think of it.