Monday, May 24, 2004
Il Papa!
In a message address to Grand Rabbi Riccardo Di Segni, the Holy Father expressed regrets that he could not personally attend the May 23 ceremony. (Earlier in the year, there had been heavy speculation that the Pontiff would make a personal appearance.) Two ranking prelates represented the Church in his stead: Cardinal Camillo Ruini, the vicar for Rome, and Cardinal Walter Kasper (bio - news), the president of the Pontifical Council for Christian Unity and the head of a Vatican commission for relations with Jews.
The Pope said that his visit to the synagogue, on April 13, 1986, "remains instilled in my memory and in my heart." He sent special greetings to the former Grand Rabbi Elio Toaff, who had welcomed him there. The papal message opened and closed with prayers in Hebrew.
Now that's my kind of Pope.
The Pope said that his visit to the synagogue, on April 13, 1986, "remains instilled in my memory and in my heart." He sent special greetings to the former Grand Rabbi Elio Toaff, who had welcomed him there. The papal message opened and closed with prayers in Hebrew.
Now that's my kind of Pope.
