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.
Good grief you're quick, I could barely respond. It may be my imagination, but I think this nonsense is on the increase.
My apologizes, I though you pulled 39, not 38. Heretic, infidel or a pagan, standard shorthand for Jew.
Excellent news. Thanks.
The one prayer Jesus taught seems fairly universal to me.
Whatever. The fact remains that Our Lord is Jesus Christ, meaning Jesus the Messiah. Whatever the differences, this is, at bottom a family matter, unlike our quarrel with the Muslims.
interfaith ping
btt
"Well, we are lifelong Episcopalians- and no fewer than four Rabbis have dubbed us "honorary Jews" as well. I'll leave it at that."
That's interesting. I just finished watching "A Man for All Season's". It was just heart rending when he had his visit with his family in the tower. I don't know how historically accurate that scene would be but that depiction brought me to tears. What a man of principle.
Catholics and Jews are both monotheistid religions. Jesus's Father IS the Jewish God and Creator is He not?
Can I ask why does he have to meet in a synagogue? Why cant he meet in a church or even at the Vatican? If the Vaitcan in a separate country, should it not take place at the Vatican?
I think Benedict saw how much the world loved JPII for all of his bending over backwards to these false faiths, kissing the Koran, getting dotted on the head by the Hindus, that he wants to do the same now.
Remember what Our Lord said to his Apostles when he warned them to be careful when the world loves you....And the vatican is to blind as it is run by politicians now and ecumenical men who refuse to take to Papal Oath, and instead of getting "coronated" they get "installed". What a travesty!
Just because two people are going to hold different faith views doesn't mean they can't be respectful and courteous to each other. What's the problem with worshiping the God of the Covenant in a Jewish temple?
The point is, being an impolite @ss doesn't burnish one's credentials of leadership.
If they called you that simply because you are Episcopalian and not because they know that you are very pro-Zionist, then the only reason they call you an "honorary Jew" is because they assume you're liberal.
What's truly aweseome is to hear the Consecration chanted in Aramaic, using the words and language of our Lord, at the Last Supper. You don't get more authentic than that ;-D.
Don't forget that ALL of the Apostles were also Jews!
Do not think that I came to send peace upon earth: I came not to send peace, but the sword. Matthew 10:34
>> What's truly aweseome is to hear the Consecration chanted in Aramaic, using the words and language of our Lord, at the Last Supper. You don't get more authentic than that ;-D.<<
Amen, Amen, Amen!!!!
Just so you know, I do not think that Luddite's comments are representative of the feelings of all FR Catholics.
And I am sure you are rather upset that us heretics aren't being taken care of the old fashioned way, eh?
>>Heretic, infidel or a pagan, standard shorthand for Jew.<<
Horrible.
Please do not judge all Catholics by some of the lowlifes on this thread.
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