World Jewish Congress (WJC) President Ronald S. Lauder hailed Pope Francis’ Visit to Auschwitz-Birkenau as “a strong signal” against hatred and called the Catholic Church leader “one of the closest allies Jews have today in the fight against anti-Semitism and bigotry.”

“The World Jewish Congress welcomes Pope Francis’ historic visit to Auschwitz. Although there are no grave markers, this is the world’s largest Jewish graveyard. It is also one of the most horrific places on the planet, and we find it appropriate that Pope Francis did not wish to make a speech during his visit, but to hold a silent prayer service together with over 1,000 survivors and representatives from around the world, as tribute to the 1.1 million men, women and children murdered at the camp,’’ he added.

The pontiff walked through the gate of the Nazi death camp Auschwitz on Friday on the third day of his visit to Poland for the annual World Yout Day.

He sombrely crossed through the camp’s gate, which bears the German inscription "Work Sets You Free".

The gate was the first sight for prisoners entering the camp initially built as a hard labour facility, but in 1941 turned into an extermination site for European Jews and other nationalities under German occupation.

Upon arriving in the camp, the pope entered the cell of Saint Maksymilian Kolbe, who volunteered to take the place of a fellow prisoner selected by camp guards to die of starvation.

The pontiff did not speak a word during his visit except to greet a group of survivors near a site called the "Wall of Death", where single prisoners were executed by firing squad, just underneath the windows of two prisoner blocks. Francis refused to be kissed on the Papal ring by a survivor, instead he paid respect to those gathered.

Holding a single candle passed to him by one of those meeting him, Francis walked towards the Wall of Death to pray.

In the Auschwitz Guest Book he wrote: "Lord, Have Pity on Your People. Lord, Forgive So Much Cruelty."

The pope had in June announced that he would not deliver an address at the Auschwitz camp.

Talking to reporters, the pontiff said at the time that he wanted to go to that “place of horror” with a minimal entourage. “May the Lord give me the grace of crying,” the pope added.

Auschwitz was part of the itinerary of Polish-born Pope John Paul II’s first pilgrimage to his homeland, on 7 June 1979, and of the pilgrimage of Pope Benedict XVI on 28 June 2006. Both them delivered homilies at the site.

“Auschwitz is an eternal reminder of what can happen when hatred is allowed to fester, when the world remains silent in the face of evil and looks the other way as unspeakable crimes are being committed nearby,” Lauder said.

“Pope Francis is one of the closest allies Jews have today in the fight against anti-Semitism, bigotry and hatred. He is a true friend of the Jewish people, a man who reaches out to others and embraces them. Never over the past 2,000 years have Catholic-Jewish relations been better,’’ the WJC stressed.

“We thank him for going to Auschwitz. His visit there sends an important signal to the world that this dark chapter must never be forgotten and that the truth about what happened seven decades ago must not be obfuscated,” he said.

Referring to the murder of French priest, Jacques Hamel, earlier this week, as well as other terrorist acts that have taken place around the world, Lauder added: “This brutal attack in a house of worship, against an elderly priest, has come as a shock to all of us, and at a time when our societies are shaken by evil acts of terror, we must stand as one.

“We must speak out and not be silent. We must defend each other, and we must look after one another: one religious community after the other, one country after the other. The scourge of terrorism, fanaticism and intolerance won’t be defeated unless we are united in our resolve to defeat it, across religious and cultural divides.”