Commemorating the Holocaust is an act of conscience that honours the six million Jews who were murdered and the survivors who bore witness. As we pay tribute to the communities and traditions that the German Nazi regime sought to obliterate, we remember, as well, the millions of other victims persecuted by the Nazis on the basis of their ethnicity, disability, political or civic associations, sexual orientation, or religion.
Remembrance calls us to look honestly at antisemitism and hatred, and what follows when people are dehumanised and suffering is met with indifference. It invites us into a deeper awareness of the inherent worth of every individual and challenges us to resist falsehood and denial. In remembering, we affirm the humanity of those whose voices were silenced and commit to safeguarding truth for generations to come.
The defence of human dignity and fundamental rights remains an urgent moral responsibility. As we remember the victims of the Holocaust, we hold in prayer all who endure persecution and injustice across the world today. May this day strengthen our commitment to compassion, solidarity and peace, so that remembrance becomes a source of hope and responsibility for our shared future.
* The date of 27 January was established by the United Nations. The Jewish community also commemorates the Holocaust (Shoah) on the 27th day of Nisan on the Hebrew calendar, which falls on 14 April this year. According to Jewish custom, the day commences at sundown on 13 April.