Posted on 05/15/2005 10:33:10 AM PDT by Alouette
Pope Benedict XVI has told the Israeli ambassador to the Vatican he intends to visit the main synagogue in Cologne, Germany, in August, becoming the second pontiff in history to visit a Jewish place of worship.
Ambassador Oded Ben-Hur said the pope told him of his intention following an audience with diplomats assigned to the Vatican on Thursday.
Benedict's predecessor, John Paul II, made a groundbreaking visit to Rome's synagogue in 1986. The new pope has said he intends to continue John Paul's work toward improving relations between Roman Catholics and Jews.
"We're very happy, and this is a gesture that goes in line with the latest declarations" from the pope, Ben-Hur told The Associated Press by telephone Friday.
He said the intended visit showed Benedict's "desire to enhance and widen the dialogue with the Jewish people." One of Benedict's first acts in office was to invite Rome's chief rabbi to his April 24 installation Mass. During his homily that day, the pope made specific mention of "a great shared spiritual heritage" with Jews.
On Sunday, he sent a letter of birthday greetings to the former chief rabbi of Rome who received John Paul during his 1986 visit, saying Catholics and Jews can continue dialogue and look with "confidence" toward the future.
The pope is planning to make the synagogue visit during a planned trip to Cologne for World Youth Day, Ben-Hur said. The August 16-21 event is expected to draw tens of thousands of young people to the city.
Ben-Hur said he didn't know at what stage plans were for the visit.
Jews widely admired John Paul for his unstinting efforts to promote Jewish-Catholic reconciliation, including his 1986 synagogue visit and his 2000 visit to Israel. On the 2000 trip, John Paul won many Israeli hearts by apologizing for Roman Catholic wrongdoing over the centuries.
The path toward improved Catholic-Jewish ties was set before John Paul was elected – in the 1965 declaration Nostra Aetate, or "In our Age," from the Second Vatican Council. The document rejected the notion that Jews were collectively responsible for the death of Christ. It promoted dialogue between the faiths and rejected anti-Semitism.
"All in all there is a series of declarations that brings us to believe that the pope will follow in the footsteps of the position that was set by the church in the last few years and ever since the Second Vatican Council, and especially during the papacy of Pope John Paul," Ben-Hur said Friday.
Benedict's effort to reach out to Jews carries an added dimension because of his membership in the Hitler Youth and later as a conscript in the German army during World War II. He said he was forced into both roles.
"Everything that the new pope has said and done since achieving the papacy demonstrates his intention to continue in the path set by his predecessor and forge even closer relations between Israel and the Vatican, between the Jewish people and the Catholic Church," Israeli foreign ministry spokesman Mark Regev said Friday, commenting on Ben-Hur's conversation with the pope.
Rome's current chief rabbi, Riccardo Di Segni, was unable to attend Benedict's installation Mass as the ceremony fell on the first day of Passover, but Jewish officials said they were surprised and pleased by Benedict's gesture in inviting him.
Why would you have a problem worshipping the same God Jesus worshipped?
Blackie,
I assume that by "minions" you mean the priests and faithful who formally adhere to the SSPX. I am aware of their arguments as to the "excommunications". They may be right, they may not be, but I am quite certain that I did not raise the teachings of St. Thomas Aquinas in that context. The only "remarkable fantasy" at work here is your assertion that I did so.
Please read my post carefully. The thing that I am "out" of is the SSPX, not the Church. I am not in a position to "demand" anything of the Holy Father. To reiterate, if B16 sees fit to regularize the canonical status of the SSPX, I would readily join in with them, as i agree with many of their positions on Tradition. Until that time, I am not comfortable doing so.
As to the cafeteria being closed, maye you need to get out more. The degree and number of liturgical abuses, even in our small community, is astounding. We have priests that openly state that they don't believe in the Real Presence, and who do not really believe that the sacrament of confession is vital to the forgiveness of sins. they view the Anointing of the Sick as annoying superstition, and had to be dragged in kicking and screaming last summer when my 8-year-old was in the ICU. I have grave doubts that the necessary intent is there for receiving valid sacraments from priests such as these. If it's different where you are, you should consider yourself blessed. I have high hopes for Benedict XVI to straighten things out. Unfortunately, right now, the cafeteria may be closing, but it's a long way from being there.
LPC
I wasn't aware that Jews worshipped the Holy Trinity, as the Church requires Catholics to do. But I do think that, for example, the Pope engaging in the superstition of inserting "prayers" into the wailing wall, or kissing the koran, tends to create confusion in the minds of the faithful, and thus shouldn't be done.
So Jesus worshipped the Trinity, huh? Sure he did. Right after attending a pork BBQ at his local church on a Sunday.
I've read more than a few offerings from Jewish World Review and have never been disappointed.
There is a "semitic-thinking" thing--it's not quite the same as RC, or Western/Aristotelian--it will take me a while to get into that.
Sh'ma, Yisroel...
The Greek Orthodox priest, before proclaiming the Gospel, says "Be Attentive"...
Not a coincidence.
OK.
We have a good beginning, and a good ending.
So the middle--well--that will be a challenge.
FORTUNATELY, it's B-16's challenge, not ours.
"Amen I say to you, before Abraham was I AM"
That question about worshipping the same God Jesus "worshipped" is thoroughly wrongheaded, from a Christian perspective.
Just some of that "stuff in the middle" ...
I'm pretty sure that Catholics do, which is what I wrote in my post. Reading comprehension is an important skill.
"...who together with the Father and the Son is to be adored and glorified, who spoke by the Prophets. And one holy, catholic, and apostolic Church. We confess (I confess) one baptism for the remission of sins. And we look for (I look for) the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come. Amen."
How much of this can is in conformity with Jewish belief?"
Off the top of my head, I would say about one third.
"I'm pretty sure you're supposed to buy into that "stuff in the middle", even in the current Catholic Cafeteria."
Of course you are. And not "buying into it would certainly make you an infidel and that is what you have quoted from the Angleic Doctor.
But, does the Dumb Ox speak anything about worshipping with infidels or not? I am ignorant on that point, I admit.
I had never thought of the Sh'ma Israel being corrolative to the frequent "Wisdom, let us attend/let us be attentive" in Orthodox services, but you are quite right.
I doubt Jesus was aware he was worhipping a truine God
Either one translates to "Lisssen UP!"
This is the point in the conversation when its forgotten we're having a civil discussion and the insults begin.
If you were waiting for the insults to begin, you missed it by about 80 posts or so, where I was accused of everything from wanting to bring back the inquisition to cheering the holocaust. I don't believe that calling for a careful reading of a previous post (BTW, that applies to your post 115 as well) constitutes an insult. Rather, I would think that in itself would be a prerequisite for a civil discussion.
really? my 115 was an insult?
so just to be clear, the
God Jesus the Jew worshipped was not the same as
the God the Jews worship?
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