Chief Rabbinate in Israel reacts to new Pope


On Thursday, March 14, 2013, the Chief Rabbinate in Israel published an official statement on the occasion of the election of the new Pope in Rome, Francis, as the replacement of Pope Benedict XVI who retired.

The Rabbinate underlined: “Over the past 12 years there has been a fruitful and rich dialogue between the Chief Rabbinate of Israel and the Vatican on issues concerning the world – like forbidding the use of the name of God as a justification for acts of terror, the sanctity of life, the sanctity of the family, etc.”

The Rabbinate also mentioned that “this dialogue brought about many meaningful gains. For example: the decision of the Vatican to sack the priest Williamson, Holocaust denier, as demanded by the Rabbinate, as well as the cancellation of passages in prayer where there were difficult and insulting expressions against Jews in the Friday prayers (the allusion is obviously to Good Friday prayers)”.

“Memorable in particular are the statements of the two previous Popes, John Paul II and Benedict XVI, according to which the Holy One blessed be His Name never violated His covenant with the Jewish people as well as the declaration that the Jews are the older brothers, indeed even the parents, of the Christian faithful. The statements of the last two Popes are an important brick in the struggle against anti-Semitism in Europe and elsewhere”

According to the Rabbis, “the dialogue between the Vatican and the Chief Rabbinate in Israel took place with the personal blessing of the two previous Popes. In the Chief Rabbinate of Israel, there is confidence that Pope Francis, whose good relationship with the Jews is well known, will also continue in the same spirit and cultivate his connection to the State of Israel and the Jewish people”.

Support Us Contact Us Vatican News in Hebrew Mass in Hebrew Child Safeguarding Policy


© 2020 Saint James Vicariate for Hebrew Speaking Catholics in Israel