Pope’s greetings for Jewish festivities

(September 30, 2011) Pope Benedict XVI has sent his best wishes to the chief rabbi of Rome for three Jewish festivities occurring these days. The Pope sent his greetings to Riccardo Di Segni for Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, Yom Kippur or the Day of Atonement and Sukkot, the Feast of Tabernacles, which fall in the months of September and October. The New year was marked from September 28 to 30. Yom Kippur is scheduled for October 7-8, and Sukkot, October 12-19. In his greetings, the Holy Father expressed hope that "these important feasts may be an occasion for many blessings from on high, and a source of infinite grace." "May the desire grow in all of us to promote justice and peace in the world, which has great need of authentic witnesses of truth," the Holy Father wished. "May God in his goodness protect the Jewish community and allow us to deepen our friendship, both here in Rome and all over the world," he added.