Pope Francis: Christians cannot be anti-Semitic, we share common roots!




June 24, 2013. (Romereports.com) While speaking to a delegation of the International Jewish Committee on Interreligious Consultations, Pope Francis underlined the importance of the strong bond that unites Christian and Jews. After addressing the audience as 'elder brothers and sisters', the Pope reminded that the Second Vatican Council and its declaration 'Nostra Aetate' were in the forefront of promoting cooperation between the two religions.

POPE FRANCIS
“In that Council text, the Church recognizes that “the beginnings of its faith and election are to be found in the patriarchs, Moses and prophets”. And, with regard to the Jews, the Council recalls the teaching of Saint Paul, who wrote “the gifts and the call of God are irrevocable.”

Pope Francis also told the assembly that he was personally acquainted with many Jewish leading figures. The Pope said that he has enjoyed talking and exchanging views with Jewish people since his days as Archbishop of Buenos Aires. Back then he even hosted a TV show and wrote a book with Argentinian rabbi Abraham Skorka.  Finally, Pope Francis ended his speech with the Hebrew word for peace: 'shalom'.

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