Pope Francis met the members of the French Jewish-Christian friendship association on December 12, urging them to persevere on their journey together and not to back down even if worrying anti-Semitism resurfaces.
(Vatican News Network)On the occasion of the commemoration of the 75th anniversary of the French Jewish-Christian friendship association, Pope Francis received the members of the association at the Vatican on the morning of December 12, encouraging them to “persevere on the path of dialogue, fraternity and initiative common “.
“Because this beautiful work, which includes making connections, is fragile and always needs to be reorganized and strengthened, especially in these hostile times, in which attitudes of closure and rejection of the other are increasingly widespread, it is worrying” . -Semitism is back, especially in Europe, as is violence against Christians”.
The Pope mentions the figure of Jules Isaac, the founder of the association, who played a leading role in the process of rapprochement between Jews and Christians after the “tragic role of the Second World War” and was a strong supporter of the Council’s initiative Vatican II Declaration on the attitude of the Church towards non-Christian religions (Nostra Aetate). The pope thanked the association for its contribution in helping Jews and Christians to “increase mutual knowledge, mutual understanding, respect and friendship”.
“I thank you for the seventy years of tireless work that has been done”, the Pope said. “It has greatly helped Jews and Christians to rediscover themselves as brothers, children of the same Father, who are in which all peoples will invoke the Lord with one voice and will join in his service” (see Sol. 4)”.
Lastly, the Pope assured his support for the various initiatives of the French Association for Jewish-Christian friendship and for “all those who work for a deeper Jewish and Christian fraternity”.
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