Holocaust Memorial Day at the European Parliament

On 26 January, the Chaplain-President in his capacity as Bishop Robert's adviser for EU affairs attended the full morning's commemoration of the Holocaust at the European Parliament, presided by its President, Roberta Metzola. The President of the State of Israel, Isaac Herzog, spoke three times: to the whole Parliament in the chamber; at the unveiling of the permanent memorial to the Holocaust just outside the chamber's main doors; and at a gathering over lunch at which a survivor from the Auschwitz death-camp also spoke. The permanent European Parliament memorial is The Refugee, a remarkable painting by Felix Nussbaum (1904-1944), a German Jewish artist who sought refuge in Belgium in 1935, before being denounced in 1944 by his neighbours and sent to Auschwitz, where he and his family were murdered. Lord, have mercy upon us. Christ, have mercy upon us. Lord, have mercy upon us.