A Catholic diocese in Poland apologized for having asked a court to determine whether a man who was sexually abused as a child by a priest is gay and whether the sexual contact may have consequently been pleasurable for him.

A Polish court on Tuesday acquitted three activists who had been accused of desecration and offending religious feelings for producing and distributing images of a revered Roman Catholic icon altered to include the LGBT rainbow.

His campaign focused on defending traditional family values in the predominantly Catholic nation of 38 million people, and on preserving social spending policies.

Survivors of the Auschwitz-Birkenau death camp prayed and wept as they marked the 75th anniversary of its liberation, returning Monday to the place where they lost entire families and warning about the ominous growth of anti-Semitism and hatred in the world.

Protesters, including far-right groups and their supporters, say the United States has no right to interfere in Polish affairs and that the U.S. government is putting "Jewish interests" over the interests of Poland.

Among those watching how Francis would act was Archbishop Mark Coleridge of Brisbane, who tweeted: "She kissed his ring!"

The law has fueled a diplomatic crisis with Israel, which fears it would enable Poland to whitewash the role of the Poles who killed or denounced Jews during the Holocaust.

Masked participants had chanted "Sieg Heil" and "Ku Klux Klan" as well as "Pure Poland, white Poland" and "Clean blood, lucid mind."

The Law and Justice party finds itself on the defensive after angering groups on all sides—women, its traditional opposition, moderates among its own electorate and religious conservatives.

"Thank you for your prayer of silence," Rabbi Schudrich told Pope Francis. "Pray for me," the pope responded.