Pope Francis's prayerful silence at Auschwitz-Birkenau

A liturgy without words so that the horror will never be repeated

Abstract

In this article, we highlight Pope Francis's visit to the Auschwitz-Birkenau prison camp (on July 29, 2016). The objective is to analyze the communication that Francis's presence and silence promoted in that scene of tragic memory, as he, unlike his predecessors, chose not to speak and instead offered silence as a central element. This is a qualitative study with a theoretical-bibliographical approach in three stages: first, we analyze the speeches given by John Paul II and Benedict XVI; then, we discuss some images transmitted from Francis's apostolic visit; and finally, we highlight what Francis said about the importance of memory as a guarantee and stimulus for building a more just and fraternal future. As a result, we seek to show that Francis's speech and prayerful silence generated empathy, respect, and solidarity with the memory of those who suffered there and with their descendants.