On Tuesday 22 November, during a meeting with representatives of the World Jewish Congress, the Pope recalled that any war always and everywhere means the defeat of all humanity. “I am thinking of the war in Ukraine”, he said, “of the sacrilegious war that threatens both Jews and Christians, depriving them of their loved ones, of homes, of goods, of life itself”.
Jānis Evertovskis – Vatican
Jews and Catholics share immeasurable spiritual treasures. They affirm their faith in the Creator of heaven and earth and believe that the Almighty did not stay away from his creation, but revealed himself to it-Francis affirmed, receiving the representatives of the World Jewish Congress in the Vatican. The Congress represents Jewish communities in more than 100 countries around the world.
Looking at the cracks in our common home, the Pope reminded us that common and concrete initiatives aimed at promoting justice require courage, collaboration and creativity. He added that our political, cultural and social initiatives aimed at improving the world cannot lead to the desired results without prayer and fraternal openness to other creatures in the name of the one Creator who loves life and blesses those who promote peace.
Today, brothers and sisters, peace is in danger in many regions of the world, the Pope continued. Let us admit together that war, any war, always and everywhere is the defeat of all humanity! I am thinking of the war in Ukraine, the sacrilegious war which threatens both Jews and Christians, depriving them of their loved ones, of homes, of possessions, of life itself! Only thanks to a serious desire for mutual rapprochement and fraternal dialogue is it possible to prepare the ground for peace. As Jews and Christians, we strive to do everything humanly possible to stop war and pave the way for peace.
The Holy Father recalled that Jews and Christians are bound to the Lord through faith and the reading of the Scriptures and become collaborators with his providential will. Both look at the end of life in a similar way. We believe that our life is going nowhere, but is heading towards an encounter with the Most High, who takes care of us, who has promised to take us to his kingdom of eternal peace, where all that threatens our life will end. life and human life.
It is sad that our world is marked by violence, oppression and exploitation, but it does not have the last word – the Pope underlined -. The faithful promise of the eternal God speaks to us of a future of salvation, of a new heaven and a new earth, where peace and joy will have a permanent abode, where death will be destroyed forever, where God will wipe away the tears from every face, where there will be no more mourning or crying. The Lord will make such a future happen. In fact, He Himself will be our future.
Given the common religious heritage, Jews and Catholics see the present as a common challenge, as an impulse to act together. The task of these two religions is to work to make the world more fraternal, fighting against inequalities and promoting greater justice, so that peace does not remain a promise of the future world, but becomes a reality already in this world.
Referring to the encyclical “Pacem in terris” of his predecessor, Saint John XXIII, Francis recalled that the path of peaceful coexistence begins with justice, which, together with truth, love and freedom, is one of the fundamental conditions for lasting peace in the world. How many people, who were created in the image and likeness of God, have their dignity distorted because of injustice-he underlined. Injustice is the root cause of many conflicts, wars and violence! God, who created everything in harmony, calls us to face every injustice. The Pope wished those present that the Lord would accompany them on their journey and lead everyone together on the paths of peace.
The origins of the World Jewish Congress are intertwined with the dark pages of the history of the 20th century. When 230 delegates representing Jewish communities from 32 countries gathered in Geneva, Switzerland, to found the organization in August 1936, the danger was clear: Jews in Nazi Germany were being persecuted and disenfranchised. The rising tide of anti-Semitism also affected Jewish communities elsewhere in Europe. Immediately after the establishment of the congress, the main objectives of this body were the mobilization of the Jewish people and democratic forces to fight against Nazi deviations, to fight for equal political and economic rights. Today, the mission of the World Jewish Congress is to promote unity, represent the interests of the Jewish people and ensure the continuity and development of the religious, spiritual, cultural and social heritage of this people.
