Holocaust denier Bishop Richard Williamson has apologized to Pope Benedict for causing him “distress.”

Williamson’s apology came in the form of a letter, dated Jan. 28, to Cardinal Dario Castrillón Hoyos, head of the Vatican office that deals with the Society of St. Pius X and other traditionalist groups disaffected by church reforms stemming from the Second Vatican Council (1962-65).

“Amidst this tremendous media storm stirred up by imprudent remarks of mine on Swedish television, I beg of you to accept . . . my sincere regrets for having caused to yourself and to the Holy Father so much unnecessary distress and problems,” Williamson wrote.

The bishop also expressed gratitude for Benedict’s cancellation of his excommunication and promised to “offer a Mass” for the pope and Castrillón.

In an introductory comment for readers of his blog, Williamson suggested that critics had exploited his remarks merely to attack Benedict. “Last week’s media uproar” was “surely aimed rather at the Holy Father than at a relatively insignificant bishop,” he wrote.

Williamson also hinted that his apology was not a retraction of his inflammatory historical statements but a gesture of deference to the pope.

It’s a classic unapologetic apology; Williamson did not retract his Holocaust denial, and he offered no apology to Jews for his vile beliefs. But that’s not surprising because the order to which he belongs is a virulently antisemitic “traditionalist” group that pines for the good old days when heretics could be tortured and executed, women knew their place, and Jews were Christ-killers.