Cardinal Barbarin on Bishop Williamson

''They're totally inadequate excuses that do not correspond to those which his superior gave, who asked for forgiveness from the Pope and from all those who have been wounded by those words. There 'was no retraction''said Cardinal Barbarin French radio RTL.

Holocaust denial: Williamson's apology "inadequate" for Cardinal Barbarin

The French Cardinal, Archbishop of Lyon (central-eastern France), Philippe Barbarin, on Saturday described the apology offered by fundamentalist Bishop Williamson to Pope Benedict XVI as "completely inadequate."

Richard Williamson, who had denied the existence of the gas chambers, expressed his "sincere regret" on Friday for the "suffering" caused to Pope Benedict XVI by his "imprudent remarks."

"This is a completely inadequate apology that does not correspond to the one expressed by his superior, who said, 'I ask forgiveness from the Pope and all those who were hurt by these remarks.' He has not retracted his statement," Bishop Barbarin said on RTL radio.

The Holocaust-denying statements "are lamentable, scandalous, and revolting, for Jews as well as for Catholics, that's what the Pope said," added the archbishop, specifying that he did not know whether these "apologies" were spontaneous or solicited by the Vatican.

The Primate of Gaul, however, "fears" that "there are other people" behind Williamson, hoping "that it is a very small minority."

He also advocated dialogue with fundamentalists: "We should also dare to speak to them and not directly treat them like the devil, but say to them: Why are you saying things that are objectively false? Do you realize the hurt you are inflicting on millions of people?