Towards visit of Pope Francis to Rome synagogue
On January 17, 2016, Pope Francis will pay a visit to the synagogue in Rome. Chief Rabbi Riccardo Di Segni has given an interview in preparation of the visit.
The interview published in the Italian daily “Corriere della Sera” (read here) was published on January 7, 2016.
In the interview, Di Segni says: “The visit of John Paul II, 30 years ago, was the revolution, the watershed. The second, made by Pope Ratzinger, who had a special relationship with Judaism and that visit stressed the theme of continuity. His style was doctrinal, theological, sapiential, even formal. Now I think that the main elements are the continuity, this particular historical moment, but also a different kind of relationship, pastoral, which Francis has with the public. We understand the request to trim the event to his personality. Bergoglio will greet directly the biggest number of people possible. And many Jews would like to shake his hand. This will be a further step in history.”