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Pope John Paul II’s Legacy to Become Part of Museum Of Tolerance’s Permanent Exhibit


Los Angeles—The Simon Wiesenthal Center announced today that it would honor the beatification of the late Pope John Paul II by including highlights of his historic friendship and solidarity withthe Jewish people as a part of the permanent exhibit of the Center’s renowned Museum of Tolerance in Los Angeles.

This March, the Center honored John Paul II with its Medal of Valor at a ceremony in New York. At the behest of PopeBenedict XVI, Archbishop Pietro Sambi, the Papal Nuncio to the United States received the medal on behalf of the Vatican.

Photo: L-R: Rabbi Marvin Hier, Larry Mizel and Archbishop Pietro Sambi

“Pope John Paul II will always have a special place of honor in the hearts of Jews everywhere. In our two private audiences with the Pope, we experienced firsthand the uniqueness of this greatman; from the very beginning of his pontificate, the warmth of his interaction-- particularly how he engaged in conversation with each of the Holocaust survivors who were members of ourdelegation,” recalled Rabbi Marvin Hier, Founder and Dean of the Simon Wiesenthal Center, who along with Larry A. Mizel, Chairman of the Board of Trustees, presented the Medal of Valorposthumously to the late Pontiff.

“We could see as early as 1983, that this Pope would go on to make history. John Paul II will be remembered for charting a new course in the often-troubled relationship between the Church and theJewish people. He was the first Pope in the 2000-year history of the Church to pray in a synagogue, the first visit a concentration camp, and the first to recognize the State of Israel,” RabbiHier added. “We want these achievements to be part of the permanent installation of the Museum of Tolerance so that they may be a living testimony to his remarkable life and a source ofinspiration for future generations,” Rabbi Hier concluded.

1983, Vatican, ROME-Simon Wiesenthal Center delegation meets with Pope John Paul II
2003, Vatican, ROME - Rabbi Marvin Hier meeting with Pope John Paul II
Click on photos for hi-res versions



The Simon Wiesenthal Center is one of the largest international Jewish human rights organizations with over 400.000 members. It is an NGO at internationalagencies including the United Nations, UNESCO, the OSCE, the Council of Europe, the OAS and the Latin American Parliament.

For more information, please contact the Center's Public Relations Department, 310-553-9036, join the Center on Facebook, www.facebook.com/simonwiesenthalcenter, or follow @simonwiesenthal for news updates sent direct to your Twitter page or mobile device.

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