Asger Risom
The new pontiff seeks to restore trust amid strained Vatican-Israel ties
In a world where religious tensions can quickly escalate into broader societal divides, the role of faith leaders in promoting peace and understanding has never been more crucial.
The new head of the Catholic Church has taken an early step in defining how he plans to guide interfaith relations, particularly with one of the Church’s most historically complex partners.
A Renewed Call for Catholic-Jewish Cooperation
Pope Leon XIV has sent a message to Jewish communities worldwide, expressing a strong desire to deepen dialogue and collaboration. The letter, addressed to Rabbi Noam Marans of the American Jewish Committee (AJC) and shared publicly by the organization, reaffirms the Church’s commitment to reconciliation:
“With confidence in the help of the Almighty, I pledge to continue and strengthen the dialogue and cooperation of the Church with the Jewish people, in the spirit of the declaration Nostra Aetate of the Second Vatican Council,” the pope wrote, as reported by Digi24.
The Nostra Aetate document, issued in the 1960s, rejected the notion of collective Jewish guilt for Jesus’ death and laid the groundwork for modern Catholic-Jewish relations.
Pope John Paul II famously advanced these ties with his historic 1986 visit to Rome’s Great Synagogue, calling Jews “our beloved elder brothers.” Diplomatic relations between Israel and the Vatican formally began in 1993.
According to Vatican sources, Rabbi Marans and over a dozen other Jewish leaders are expected at the upcoming inaugural mass of Pope Leon XIV. However, it remains unclear whether Israeli government officials will attend.
A Complicated Recent History
Ties between Israel and the Vatican were strained during Pope Francis’ final years, especially following his criticism of Israel’s military actions in Gaza in 2023.
At his funeral, Israel sent only its Vatican ambassador, which some interpreted as a deliberate diplomatic message.
In 2023, Pope Francis questioned whether Israel’s offensive in Gaza should be investigated as genocide, a remark that drew significant backlash. Pope Leon XIV’s move to open dialogue may signal an attempt to mend relations early in his papacy.