Catholic Church England and Wales / Flickr
CV NEWS FEED // On the same day as his papal election, Pope Leo XIV wrote a letter to the American Jewish Committee (AJC) promising to strengthen dialogue and cooperation, and the organization expressed its gratitude this week for his commitment.
“Trusting in the assistance of the Almighty, I pledge to continue and strengthen the Church’s dialogue and cooperation with the Jewish people in the spirit of the Second Vatican Council’s Nostra Aetate,” Pope Leo wrote in a May 8 letter to the AJC’s director of interreligious affairs, Rabbi Noam Marans.
Nostra Aetate is a document written by Pope Paul VI that addresses the Catholic Church’s relationship with other religions, especially Judaism. It emphasizes the shared spiritual history of Jews and Christians and explicitly condemns anti-semitism.
“Furthermore, in her rejection of every persecution against any man,” the document states, “the Church, mindful of the patrimony she shares with the Jews and moved not by political reasons but by the Gospel’s spiritual love, decries hatred, persecutions, displays of anti-Semitism, directed against Jews at any time and by anyone.”
The AJC responded to Pope Leo’s letter in a post on X, writing, “We are deeply moved that Pope Leo XIV, so early in his papacy, has reaffirmed his commitment to Catholic-Jewish relations.”
They added, “As we approach the 60th anniversary of this landmark declaration, we look forward to working together to deepen understanding and cooperation.”
According to Reuters, a Vatican source stated that Rabbi Marans will attend Pope Leo’s inaugural Mass on Sunday, May 18.
