Pope concerned about anti-Semitism, reiterates "love" for Jews
Vatican City (AsiaNews) On August 19 of last year, during his visit to the Cologne synagogue, Pope Benedict XVI said there were signs that anti-Semitism was on the rise again. In receiving Rome's Chief Rabbi Riccardo Di Segni today, he noted "fresh manifestations" of the same problem that "pain and concern" the Catholic Church.
Today as five months ago he spoke of love to describe his feelings for the Chosen People and the meeting marked another stage in the path the Pope set out following his election.
On becoming pontiff, Benedict XVI had written to Rome's Chief Rabbi to reassert his willingness to continue the rapprochement between Catholics and Jews.
In receiving Di Segni himself in the Vatican, Benedict XVI wants to reassert the Church's condemnation of the Holocaust and express his concern about anti-Semitism, confirming to his "Dearest beloved Jewish brothers" the Catholic Church's desire "to join hands and hearts in concrete initiatives of solidarity, justice (tzedek) and charity (tzedekah)."
"Together," he said, "we can work to pass the torch of the Ten Commandments and hope to the young generation."
Again Benedict XVI spoke of love when referring to the Jewish people. In Cologne he had said that Catholics and Jews must get to know each other better and must learn to respect and love one another. During his speech in the synagogue, "love" was the only word he used extemporaneously.
"The Catholic Church is close you," he said today. "It is your friend. We do love you and we cannot fail to love you because of the Fathers. You are our dearest beloved brothers (cf Rm, 11: 28b)."
"Following Vatican Council II the reciprocal esteem and trust between us has increased. Ever more fraternal and cordial contacts have developed, becoming even more intense during the pontificate of my venerated predecessor, John Paul II."
For Benedict XVI, the Holocaust/Shoah was one of those moments in which the hand of the Almighty guided and sustained the Jews. In saying so, the Holy Father almost expressed a desire to run against the grain of those who speak about "God's silence" in the face of the Holocaust. Instead, he said: "The people of Israel have been liberated many times from the hands of their enemies and, in times of anti-Semitism, in the dramatic moments of the Shoah, the hand of the Almighty guided and sustained them. The favour of the God of the Covenant has always accompanied them, giving them the strength to overcome trials."
In Benedict XVI's view, Catholics and Jews can work together thanks to their common heritage. "In Christ, we partake in your heritage of the Fathers, in order to serve the Almighty "under the same yoke" (Sof, 3: 9), grafted onto the one 'holy tree' of the people of God (cf Is, 6: 13; Rm, 11: 16).
"As Christians, we are aware that, with you, we share in the responsibility of cooperating for the good of all people, in justice and peace, in truth and freedom, in holiness and love."
"Mindful of this shared mission we cannot but denounce and firmly fight against the hatred and misunderstandings, injustice and violence that continue to burden the soul of men and women of good will. In such context, how can we not be pained and concerned about fresh manifestations of anti-Semitism?"
"The Catholic Church," the Pope said in Cologne, "is concerned by the signs that anti-Semitism is on the rise again" and remains "committed to tolerance, respect, friendship and peace among all peoples, cultures and religions". (FP)
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