Pope honors martyred bishop who saved Jews during WWII

VATICAN CITY — A solemn ceremony took place in the Sistine Chapel on June 2, where Pope Leo XIV, alongside Romanian church representatives and members of the Jewish community, honored Blessed Iuliu Hossu. The Romanian Greek Catholic bishop was secretly named a cardinal by St. Paul VI in 1969 while he was imprisoned by the communist regime in Romania.

Bishop Hossu was arrested for his refusal to join the Orthodox Church after the Greek Catholic Church was banned by the communists. The tribute also highlighted his actions during World War II when he helped save thousands of Jews from deportation in Northern Transylvania between 1940 and 1944.

Pope Leo praised Bishop Hossu for "his courage and heroism before the communist takeover of Romania," emphasizing his efforts to protect Jews from Nazi persecution. "At enormous risk to himself and to the Greek Catholic Church, Blessed Hossu undertook extensive activities on behalf of the Jews aimed at preventing their deportation," stated Pope Leo. In 1944, Bishop Hossu urged his clergy through a pastoral letter to aid Jews with action rather than just thoughts.

Silviu Vexler, president of the Federation of Jewish Communities in Romania and a parliament member, addressed those gathered: “The actions of Cardinal Iuliu Hossu are unimaginable... he placed himself, his community and his church in peril.” He added that it is not Bishop Hossu’s suffering but "the strength of his beliefs" that should define him.

Vexler expressed gratitude towards Pope Leo XIV: “May G-d give you the strength to bring hope... love to those that hate and... faith to those that lost it.” Pope Leo described Bishop Hossu as an example of unwavering faith coupled with mercy. He noted that Cardinal Hossu’s legacy serves as a model for freedom, courage, and generosity.

The pope also connected Bishop Hossu's actions with teachings later expressed in "Nostra Aetate" from the Second Vatican Council. Concluding with a call against violence, especially towards vulnerable groups like children and families, Pope Leo invoked Bishop Hossu's spirit as guidance for contemporary society.