Merkel demands Holocaust statement from Pope

German Chancellor Angela Merkel entered the row over the Catholic church and Holocaust denials today by demanding the pope give a “very clear” rejection of them.

Ms Merkel said that she “does not believe” there has been “sufficient” clarification after the re-instatement of British-born bishop Richard Williamson who has questioned whether six million Jews were gassed in Nazi concentration camps.

The German-born pope last week expressed his “full and indisputable solidarity” with Jews and warned against any denial of the horror of the Holocaust but several leading German bishops have criticised his decision and called for Bishop William’s rehabilitation to be revoked.