VATICAN - The Pope welcomes Chief Rabbis of Israel: “your visit is a further step forward in the process of building deeper religious relations between Catholics and Jews”

Castel Gandolfo (Agenzia Fides) - “I see your visit as a further step forward in the process of building deeper religious relations between Catholics and Jews, a course which has received new impulse and energy from Nostra Aetate and from the many forms of contact, dialogue and co-operation that have their origin in the principles and spirit of that document. The Church continues to make every effort to implement the Council's vision of a new era of better mutual understanding, respect and solidarity between us”. Pope Benedict XVI said this in an address to the Chief Rabbis of Israel, Mr Shlomo Moshe Amar and Mr Yona Metzger who paid a visit to the Holy Father on Thursday 15 September at his Summer residence in Castel Gandolfo.
The audience was a reason to mention, in view of the 40th anniversary of the Vatican II Declaration Nostra Aetate (The relation of the Church to non Christian religions), improved relations between Christians and Jews"", “Nostra Aetate has proven to be a milestone on the road towards reconciliation of Christians with the Jewish people” said Benedict XVI, repeating what he said when he visited the Synagogue of Cologne in August about the common responsiblity “of handing down to young people the torch of hope that God has given to Jews and to Christians, so that never again will the forces of evil come to power, and that future generations, with God's help, may be able to build a more just and peaceful world, in which all people have equal rights and are equally at homes”.
Lastly the Pope recalled that “The eyes of the world constantly turn to the Holy Land, the Land that is considered holy to Jews, Christians and Muslims Unfortunately our attention is too often drawn by acts of violence and terror, a cause of immense sorrow to everyone living there. We must continue to insist that religion and peace go together.” And he voiced concern for Christians in the Holy Land “face new and increasing challenges". (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 17/9/2005, righe 32, parole 443)