Sunday, June 12, 2005
B16 calls for better C-J relations
Vatican, Jun. 09 (CWNews.com) - Pope Benedict XVI (bio - news) declared his intention to pursue friendlier dialogue between Catholics and Jews, as he met on June 9 with 25 representatives of the International Jewish Committee on Inter-Religious Consultations (IJCIC).
"My predecessors Pope Paul VI and in a particular way Pope John Paul II (bio - news) took significant steps toward improving relations with the Jewish people," the Pope said. "It is my intention to continue on this path."
While acknowledging that relations between the two faith have been been "complex and often painful" in the past, the Holy Father said that the share spiritual patrimony of Christians and Jews should be the basis for closer ties.
The Pope added that "remembrance of the past remains for both communities a moral imperative." That remembrance, he said, "must include a continued reflection on the profound historical, moral and theological questions presented by the experience of the Shoah." Speaking in English, the Pontiff remarked that this year brings the 40th anniversary of the Vatican II statement Nostra Aetate (doc), which has formed the basis for Catholic relations with Jews in the subsequent years. "At the very beginning of my pontificate," he said, I wish to assure you that the Church remains firmly committed, in her catechesis and in every aspect of her life, to implementing this decisive teaching." In Nostra Aetate, Pope Benedict observed, the Council strongly affirmed that God's plan for salvation was first introduced to mankind to the people of Israel. The Church also condemned all forms of hatred and adverse discrimination against Jews.
Pope Benedict expressed his appreciation for the work of the IJCIC, which has engaged with the Holy See in organizing 18 different meetings between Catholic and Jewish leaders over the past 35 years. The last such meeting, held in Buenos Aires last July, was dedicated to discussion of shared efforts to promote justice and charity. The Jewish delegation that met with Pope Benedict on June 9 was led by Rabbi Israel Singer, the president of the IJCIC. Rabbi Singer introduced the 24 other members of the delegation, including Edgar Bronfman, the president of the World Jewish Congress; Cobi Benatoff, president of the European Jewish Congress; Jack Terpins, president of the Latin American Jewish Congress, and Riccardo Di Segni, the chief rabbi of Rome. Cardinal Walter Kasper (bio - news), the president of the Pontifical Council for Christian Unity, also took part in the event.
"My predecessors Pope Paul VI and in a particular way Pope John Paul II (bio - news) took significant steps toward improving relations with the Jewish people," the Pope said. "It is my intention to continue on this path."
While acknowledging that relations between the two faith have been been "complex and often painful" in the past, the Holy Father said that the share spiritual patrimony of Christians and Jews should be the basis for closer ties.
The Pope added that "remembrance of the past remains for both communities a moral imperative." That remembrance, he said, "must include a continued reflection on the profound historical, moral and theological questions presented by the experience of the Shoah." Speaking in English, the Pontiff remarked that this year brings the 40th anniversary of the Vatican II statement Nostra Aetate (doc), which has formed the basis for Catholic relations with Jews in the subsequent years. "At the very beginning of my pontificate," he said, I wish to assure you that the Church remains firmly committed, in her catechesis and in every aspect of her life, to implementing this decisive teaching." In Nostra Aetate, Pope Benedict observed, the Council strongly affirmed that God's plan for salvation was first introduced to mankind to the people of Israel. The Church also condemned all forms of hatred and adverse discrimination against Jews.
Pope Benedict expressed his appreciation for the work of the IJCIC, which has engaged with the Holy See in organizing 18 different meetings between Catholic and Jewish leaders over the past 35 years. The last such meeting, held in Buenos Aires last July, was dedicated to discussion of shared efforts to promote justice and charity. The Jewish delegation that met with Pope Benedict on June 9 was led by Rabbi Israel Singer, the president of the IJCIC. Rabbi Singer introduced the 24 other members of the delegation, including Edgar Bronfman, the president of the World Jewish Congress; Cobi Benatoff, president of the European Jewish Congress; Jack Terpins, president of the Latin American Jewish Congress, and Riccardo Di Segni, the chief rabbi of Rome. Cardinal Walter Kasper (bio - news), the president of the Pontifical Council for Christian Unity, also took part in the event.
