Bishop Richard Williamson has announced that he is willing to re-examine the evidence proving that Jews were exterminated by the Nazis during World War II.
The Holocaust denier is at the heart of a storm of controversy that hit the Vatican after Pope Benedict XVI revoked his excommunication this month.
"Since I see that there are many honest and intelligent people who think differently, I must look again at the historical evidence," Williamson told the German weekly Der Spiegel. The report added, however, that the Holocaust denier made it clear he does not plan to comply immediately. "It is about historical evidence, not about emotions," he said. "If I find this evidence, I will correct myself. But that will take time."
According to the report in Der Spiegel, the British bishop currently lives in Argentina and is unapologetic for his views. Williamson apologized to the pontiff for creating the controversy but did not recant his assertions that only 300,000 Jews died in the Holocaust, mostly of starvation, which he expressed in a Swedish television news interview last month.
Williamson also said that he does not believe the Nazi gas chambers existed, and when the Der Spiegel magazine suggested he personally visit the Auschwitz concentration camp to verify the evidence for himself, he refused. "I will not go to Auschwitz," he said.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel last week called on the Vatican to reconsider its position vis a vis revoking Williamson's excommunication, in light of his denial of the Holocaust. Israel's Foreign Ministry also called on the Holy See to reverse the decision. Israel's Chief Rabbinate had already broken its ties with the Vatican a week earlier over the move.
Pope Benedict XVI said following the wave of protests that he had not been aware of Williamson's views when he made his decision to revoke the bishop's excommunication.
Williamson was informed Wednesday by the Holy See that he would be required to recant his views before he could be fully readmitted to the Roman Catholic Church. Merkel immediately responded to the news with praise for the pontiff and the Church.