Pope Benedict XVI Blog

Pope and World Jewish Congress pledge to continue inter-faith dialogue

Press Release

Source: World Jewish Congress

Pope Benedict and WJC Leaders Pledge to Continue Dialogue

Thursday June 9, 8:39 am ET

First Jewish Delegation to Meet Pope Hails Successful Talks

VATICAN CITY, June 9 /PRNewswire/ -- "After this meeting, we are confident that under the leadership of Pope Benedict XVI, the Catholic Church will continue to build upon its growing relations with the Jewish community," said Edgar M. Bronfman, President of the World Jewish Congress, who led a Jewish delegation for its first meeting with the head of the Catholic Church at the Vatican today.

"For many years, then Cardinal Ratzinger, Pope Benedict XVI provided the theological framework for the changes that took place between the Church and the Jewish people during the reign of Pope John Paul II," said Rabbi Israel Singer, Chairman of the World Jewish Congress. "Together, we have provided aid to the destitute in Argentina, cared for Holocaust-era mass graves in Eastern Europe, and now we pledge to work together to bring much needed relief and education to Africa, a continent suffering from the plague of AIDS," he said speaking of the joint humanitarian initiatives undertaken by the Church and the Jewish community.

The meeting with the Pope was held with the International Jewish Committee on Interreligious Consultations (IJCIC), an umbrella group for inter-faith dialogue. Participants included representatives from the Jewish Orthodox, Conservative and Reform movements; leaders from Israel, North America, Europe and Latin America; the Anti-Defamation League, the American Jewish Committee, and Bnai Brith International.

posted by Dr. Denice Hanley, DPM, M.Div. @ 10:56 AM