Much has been written about Richard Dawkins “Pope Nazi” comment at the Global Atheist Conference after a member of the audience asked him about the canonisation of Mary Mackillop. Dawkins now famously replied that the entire process was “pure Monty Python” and went on to deride the process requiring two verified miracles and the accusation that he only targets “the fundamental nut bags”. Dawkins was making the point that real theologians (whatever they are) believe that praying over somebody will cure them of cancer and cited Mary and “Pope Nazi” as examples, and these were the people we are meant to be taking seriously!
The media has misrepresented an off the cuff comment made by Richard Dawkins at the 2010 Global Atheist Convention. Here is the footage so everyone can see the exact words used, which pope was referred to and the context of the comment. LiveLeak
It should be clear to anyone who watches the footage that Dawkins was referring to the ongoing canonisation of Pope Pius XII, who signed a concordant with the Nazis in 1933.
In the historic document the Pontiff stipulated various protections for the Catholic Church, but conspicuously no restrictions where placed on the Nazis to curb their evil, megalomaniacal plans. A force for good in the world? I don’t think so.
Also see: Pope Pius XII and the Holocaust (Jewish Virtual Library) and Wikipedia