Jews and Christians can better the world Pope tells B’nai B’rith International

(May 12, 2011) Pope Benedict XVI on Thursday expressed his appreciation to the Jewish Human Rights organization, B’nai and B’rith International for their involvement in Catholic-Jewish dialogue, and for their shared commitment to combat poverty, injustice, discrimination and the denial of universal human rights. The Holy Father told them that there are many ways in which, Jews and Christians can cooperate for the betterment of the world in accordance with the will of God. The Pontiff particularly expressed his thanks for their active participation in the meeting of the International Catholic-Jewish Liasion Committee held in Paris last February. The Pope noted that the Paris meeting jointly organized by the Holy See’s Commission for Religious Relations with the Jews and the International Jewish Committee on Interreligious Consultations, marked the fortieth anniversary of the dialogue between them. The Pope said “What has happened in these 40 years must be seen as a great gift from the Lord, as it affirmed the desire of Catholics and Jews to stand together in meeting the immense challenges facing the communities in a rapidly changing world.”