Second sentence: he doesn't mean you NEVER convince him to be a Catholic. Just reaching out and helping your brother, neighbor-love, may well be enough --- it may be literally all you can do --- at some time, in some place, or with some particular person. (Then, as the Pope's insight suggests, you pray for the Holy Spirit to do the rest.)
When Jesus commanded us, "Go and do likewise," he was talking about a Samaritan who responded compassionately and helped a Jew. This defines what neighbor-love is. This is Scripture. It's not anti-Evangelical. It is the Evangelion.
What's with the delay? The poor old atheist editor is 89 years old; and the Pope's Jewish guest in Casa de Marta, even though a "young" 63 has this to say about his host: "I eat with him at breakfast, lunch and dinner every day. He cares for me, and controls everything regarding my food to makes sure it is all kosher, and according to my religious tradition. These are festive days, and I have to say certain prayers at meals and, I expand the last prayer and translate it. He accompanies me together with the others at table -his secretaries and a bishop, and they all say ‘Amen’ at the end”, the Rabbi said.
The pope is not being charitable (in the true sense of the word) to either the atheist or the Rabbi.
I repeat. He has absolutely no desire to convert anyone to Catholicism!