Pope says a Christian cannot be anti-Semitic

24 June, 2013 - Pope Francis on Monday received a delegation of the International Jewish Committee on Interreligious Consultations, and encouraged closer friendship and cooperation between Jews and Catholics, saying, “A Christian cannot be anti-Semitic.” The group has held 21 meetings so far with the Commission for Religious Relations with the Jews, at the Vatican’s Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity. Besides pointing to the teaching of the Second Vatican Council regarding relations with Jews, the Pope also recalled St. Paul who “firmly condemned hatred, persecution and all forms of anti-Semitism.” “Due to our common roots, a Christian cannot be anti-Semitic!” Pope Francis stressed. The Argentine Pope recalled his days as Archbishop of Buenos Aires, when he enjoyed good relations and friendship with Jewish leaders. “We talked often of our respective religious identities, the image of man found in the Scriptures, and how to keep an awareness of God alive in a world now secularized in many ways. The Pope encouraged the Jewish delegation to involve younger generations in this. “Humanity needs our joint witness in favour of respect for the dignity of man and woman created in the image and likeness of God, and in favour of peace which is above all God’s gift,” he added.