“Pontiff’s Tiff” or “Two Wrongs Don’t Make a Reich”

The Vatican defended Pope Benedict XVI today, as critics of his trip to Israel brought up his membership in the Hitler Youth and the Nazi army. The Vatican says that as a youngster in Germany, he was forced to join but was not a willing participant. Still, many Jews in Israel are mistrusting of the Pope, especially since he seems to be mocking them by wearing that yarmulke.

Before the subject of the Pope’s German roots even came up, the Vatican said that it hoped that harsh speech would “not damage the mission of the Holy Father.” Benedict, however, just wants to get back to the Holy Fatherland.