Skip to main content

The Pope is the third consecutive pontiff to make the pilgrimage to the place where Adolf Hitler's forces killed more than 1 million people, Brzezinka, Poland.

Open this photo in gallery:

Pope Francis paid a somber visit to the Nazi German death camp of Auschwitz-Birkenau.Alik Keplicz/The Associated Press

1 of 10
Open this photo in gallery:

Pope Francis arrives in Brzezinka part of the former Nazi concentration camp, Auschwitz-Birkenau.Joe Klamar/AFP / Getty Images

2 of 10
Open this photo in gallery:

Pope Francis walks towards the main entrance with the lettering "Arbeit Macht Frei" (Work Sets You Free) at the former Nazi German Auschwitz-Birkenau death camp.Filippo Monteforte/AFP / Getty Images

3 of 10
Open this photo in gallery:

Pope Francis prays in the cell of Polish friar Maximilian Kolbe, who volunteered to die in place of a stranger, at the Auschwitz Nazi death camp.AFP / Getty Images

4 of 10
Open this photo in gallery:

Pope Francis sits between barracks in the Nazi death camp, Auschwitz.AFP / Getty Images

5 of 10
Open this photo in gallery:

Pope Francis visit the International Monument to the Victims of the Birkenau Nazi death camp.AFP / Getty Images

6 of 10
Open this photo in gallery:

Pope Francis touches the "Wall of Death" a firing squad execution spot in the Nazi death camp Auschwitz.HO/AFP / Getty Images

7 of 10
Open this photo in gallery:

Pope Francis left through the entrance of the former Nazi death camp of Auschwitz.Janek Skarzynski/AFP / Getty Images

8 of 10
Open this photo in gallery:

Polish scouts arrive to meet Pope Francis in Brzezinka part of the former Nazi concentration camp, Auschwitz-Birkenau.Joe Klamar/AFP / Getty Images

9 of 10
Open this photo in gallery:

Pope Francis, background, is framed by a barbed wire as he prays in front of the Memorial at the former Nazi Death Camp Auschwitz-Birkenau.Gregorio Borgia/The Associated Press

10 of 10

Interact with The Globe