Emilie Schindler has asked the Pope to bless a hall in Jerusalem dedicated to her and her late husband, Oskar Schindler.
The 87-year-old Emilie Schindler met for several minutes with Pope John Paul II last week.
During World War II, the Schindlers helped save more than 1,000 Jews from the Nazis.
The pope, who has repeatedly stressed that he wants to visit Jerusalem soon, agreed in principle that the he would inaugurate “The Emilie and Oskar Schindler Room,” which is being built at Casa Argentina, an interdenominational organization in Jerusalem.
Pope John Paul also thanked Schindler for having helped her husband save more than 1,000 Polish Jews from the death camps.
“I know what you (and your husband) did and the Polish people are grateful” the pope said.
Emilie Schindler, on a two-day visit to Rome at the start of a European tour before heading to Israel, did not say when the pope would dedicate the hall in Jerusalem.
Oskar Schindler is buried in the Catholic cemetery in Jerusalem.
Although Israel and the Vatican established diplomatic ties last year, they remain at odds over the status of Jerusalem. Israel has declared the city as its “united and enternal” capital while the Vatican wants international guarantees protecting it as a city holy to Jews, Christians and Muslims.
Tullia Zevi, president of the Union of Italian Jewish Communities said Italian Jews extended a warm welcome to Schindler and honored the memory of her late husband.
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