Washington DC, 17th April 2008 (CNA) - In a meeting following his session
with leaders of non-Christian religions, Pope Benedict gave a special
greeting to the Jewish leaders. He underlined the common spiritual heritage
of the two faiths and asked for cooperation between the two faiths in
working to achieve peace, particularly in the Middle East and the Holy Land.
The Pope’s message was framed within the context of the annual Jewish
celebration of the Passover or “Pesah”. He also explained that the message
should serve as “a testimony to our hope centered on the Almighty and his
mercy.”
Benedict began drawing upon the common spiritual roots of Judaism and
Christianity by saying, “While the Christian celebration of Easter differs
in many ways from your celebration of Pesah, we understand and experience it
in continuation with the biblical narrative of the mighty works which the
Lord accomplished for his people.”
The Pontiff also said that he wanted to “re-affirm the Second Vatican
Council's teaching on Catholic-Jewish relations and reiterate the Church's
commitment to the dialogue that in the past forty years has fundamentally
changed our relationship for the better.”
“Because of that growth in trust and friendship, Christians and Jews can
rejoice together” and use this holy time of year to recommit to pursuing
“justice, mercy, solidarity with the stranger in the land, with the widow
and orphan,” the Pope said.
The Holy Father also recalled how at the Passover Sčder meal, Jews remember
their forefathers who partake in a Covenant that gradually “assumes an ever
more universal value”. This perspective offers “a real prospect of universal
brotherhood on the path of justice and peace, preparing the way of the
Lord.”
“With respect and friendship,” he continued, “I therefore ask the Jewish
community to accept my Pesah greeting in a spirit of openness to the real
possibilities of cooperation which we see before us as we contemplate the
urgent needs of our world, and as we look with compassion upon the
sufferings of millions of our brothers and sisters everywhere. Naturally,
our shared hope for peace in the world embraces the Middle East and the Holy
Land in particular.”
Benedict XVI concluded his talk by praying, “May the memory of God's
mercies, which Jews and Christians celebrate at this festive time, inspire
all those responsible for the future of that region-where the events
surrounding God's revelation actually took place-to new efforts, and
especially to new attitudes and a new purification of hearts!”
