Pope Benedict XVI met briefly this week with a Polish priest who has been accused of making anti-Jewish comments.Photos showing the pope at his summer residence with the Rev. Tadeusz Rydzyk, along with two other Polish priests, were published in Polish newspapers Tuesday.
The Vatican has not commented on the meeting. But a Vatican official confirmed Tuesday that the three were brought to the pope, along with other pilgrims, after the pontiff's weekly public blessing Sunday in Castel Gandolfo, his summer home.
Rydzyk, who runs a conservative media empire that includes the Catholic station Radio Maryja, was allegedly caught on tape suggesting that Jews are greedy and Polish President Lech Kaczynski is subservient to Jewish lobbyists.
The remarks allegedly were made in the spring, but they only surfaced in July in the weekly magazine Wprost. Rydzyk has rejected accusations of anti-Semitism and said he "didn't intend to offend anyone."
Israel and Jewish groups have denounced the remarks.
"There should be no place in the Church for someone who spreads anti-Semitism," said Rabbi Marvin Hier, the founder and dean of the Simon Wiesenthal Center in Los Angeles.
"If he was disciplined, then it's to the Vatican's credit and they should make that public," Hier told The Associated Press by telephone.
"Unless it was to discipline Father Rydzyk, having him in the company of the pope is an embarrassment."
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