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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.
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Thank Hashem for Pope Benedict!
This is a fine thing. I always tell fellow Christians that if they want to gather a better understanding of our religion, to accompany their Jewish friends to the Temple a few times, and learn. We have far more in common than separating us.
I hope he doesn't get it in his mind to visit a Mosque as well...that's all we would need.
Yep, if we crazy Catholics could just get over that little "Jesus is the Savior" thing, everything would be peaches and cream, and we would all sing a non-denominational Kumbayah around the campfire. Unfortunately, it seems as if that's where we're headed. Understanding and coexisting peacefully is one thing. Worshipping with pagans and heretics is quite another. Sometimes, the Truth is divisive. The ecumaniacs in the Church need to get a grip on that concept.
Ping!
Well, we are lifelong Episcopalians- and no fewer than four Rabbis have dubbed us "honorary Jews" as well. I'll leave it at that.
Thanks!. I've heard about it. It think it's good, that Pope Benedict decided to contiue what John Paul II the Great had started.
I agree. The dialogue the Pope should have with Jews should be this, "Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and be saved." Outside of that, what fellowship does light have with the darkness? Judaism, rightly understood, and Christianity, rightly understood are PROFOUNDLY at odds, not just a little bit.
I wonder whether this was one of the synagogues that functioned all through WWII
I doubt there was a single synagogue in Germany that continued to function during WW2.
I hope Benedict knows their prayer books open from the back :-).
That's right. We're darkness. We're Christ-killers, you know.
Hey, I don't care if your Pope comes to visit or not. If you don't want him to, fine. And keep out of our business as well. You don't need our friendship, we don't need yours then either.
Last time I checked, Jews didn't do so well over centuries of Catholic "love".
I wasn't aware that visiting equates with worshipping. You better write the Pope and warn him. Personally, I've never had a problem visiting Churches. I don't see the case for him worshipping with heretics, I presume you view Jews as pagans.
He'll take a flashlight with him.
Too many Star Wars fans, they figure Jews look like Darth Vader. That, or too many *ssholes on FR. Take your pick.
Last I heard Jesus was born a Jew, and was a jew until the day he died. Did I miss something?
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