Jerusalem Patriarch with Pope to Rome synagogue

Jerusalem Latin Patriarch Fouad Twal will accompany Pope Benedict XVI to the Rome synagogue on January 17, 2010.

The Patriarch told the Italian news agency SIR that he and other Catholics of the Holy Land will accompany the Pope, in the hope that the gesture will strengthen interreligious relations, as well as express the Church's respect for the Jewish community. Others who will accompany the Holy Father include Archbishop Antonio Franco, apostolic nuncio in Israel and the apostolic delegate for Jerusalem and the Palestinian Territories, Bishop Giacinto-Boulos Marcuzzo, vicar of the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem for Israel and Archbishop Elias Chacour, Greek Catholic Archbishop of the Galilee.

"I will go with the Pope to the synagogue," said Patriarch Twal. "My hope is that this visit might help our interreligious relations. It is a gesture we make with the heart, to demonstrate our respect also to the Jewish community. We hope it will have a positive impact on Israeli public opinion and on Jerusalem."

Father David Neuhaus, Latin Patriarchal Vicar for Hebrew-Speaking Catholics in Israel, told SIR that "although this visit does not represent a novelty, it has a high symbolic value. Jews and Catholics perhaps are not yet accustomed to seeing the Catholic Church going with respect to Jewish brethren."

Also confirmed is the presence of a delegation of the Great Rabbinate of Israel, who will arrive in Rome for the ninth meeting of the Mixed Commission of the Chief Rabbinate of Israel and of the Holy See Commission for Religious Relations With the Jews. The meeting will take place Jan. 17-20.

Benedict XVI will visit the Synagogue of Rome on Jan. 17, the 21st Day for the Study and Development of Dialogue between Catholics and Jews.