On 9/11...

Excerpts adapted from "The Holocaust Speech" by Pope John Paul II
March 23rd 2000 - At Israel's Holocaust Memorial

The words of the ancient Psalm rise from our hearts: "I have become like a broken vessel. I hear the whispering of many - terror on every side - as they scheme together against me, as they plot to take my life. But I trust in you, O Lord: I say, 'you are my God."'

In this place of memories, the mind and heart and soul feel an extreme need for silence. Silence in which to remember. Silence in which to try to make some sense of the memories which come flooding back. Silence because there are no words strong enough to deplore this terrible tragedy.

Men, women and children, cry out to us from the depths of the horror that they knew. How can we fail to heed their cry? No one can forget or ignore what happened. No one can diminish its scale. We wish to remember. But we wish to remember for a purpose, namely to ensure that never again will evil prevail.

How could man have such utter contempt for man? Because he had reached the point of contempt for God.

Again, we cry out: "I hear the whispering of many - terror on every side - but I trust in you, O Lord: I say, 'You are my God."