The Pope and Israel.

A delegation from Israel’s Chief Rabbinate were in Rome to meet with the Pope last Thursday. The reason for the visit was that the excommunication of Holocaust denying Bishop Richard Williamson was lifted last December.
The Vatican has made efforts to be reconciled with the Jews since Israel and the Vatican established diplomatic relations in 1993 and periodic meetings between Rome and the Chief Rabbinate were initiated by Pope John Paul II in 2004.

This is in line with the “new” trend within the Catholic Church from the Council of Vatican II initiated by Pope Paul XXIII in the beginning of 1959. As soon as he became Pope he announced that “it is time to drag the church out of the Dark Ages and into the modern world. It is time to open the stained-glass windows and let in some fresh air.”
Pope Paul died in 1963 but Vatican II continued in four sessions through his successor, Pope Paul VI. One of the changes has been that the Catholic Church wants to have dialogue with other faith communities such as Jews, Moslems and others.

The present Pope Benedict XVI gave the visitors a warm reception and said “The Jewish people, who were chosen as the elected people, communicate to the whole human family knowledge of and fidelity to the one, unique and true God.” He also thanked the delegation “who quickly helped to clear up the misunderstanding and to restore the atmosphere of friendship and trust.”
The Pope has accepted an invitation from Israeli President Shimon Peres to visit the Land, and will “ make a pilgrimage to the Holy Land to ask the Lord- visiting places sanctified by His passage on the earth- for His precious blessing of unity and peace for the Middle East and for all of mankind.” The visit will take place from May 11-15 2009.

Shimon Peres’ response when he received the news that the Pope had accepted his invitation was; “I am delighted that His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI has responded positively and accepted my invitation to visit the Holy Land. The Pope will be a most honored guest, welcomed and respected by people from all walks of life. His visit will be a moving and important event bringing the spirit of peace and hope. Welcome to Israel.”

Pope John Paul II visited the Holy Land in March 2000. The first visit ever of a Pope to this land was in January 1964 when Pope Paul VI came and stayed for 11 hours.

Elin Elkouby