VATICAN CITY – The Vatican said Tuesday that the Holocaust was an "immense tragedy" that must serve as a warning to people's consciences.
The Holy See said it was issuing the statement in connection with a two-day conference of Holocaust deniers in Iran ending Tuesday.
"The Shoah [Holocaust] was a great tragedy before which we cannot remain indifferent," the Vatican said in a statement. "The memory of those horrible events must remain as a warning for people's consciences, to eliminate conflicts, respect the rights of all peoples, exhort for peace, truth and justice."
The conference, initiated by Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, drew skeptics from across the world to debate whether the genocide of Jews during World War II took place.
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