I måndags talade påven till en delagation på 30 personer från International Jewish Committee on Interreligious Consultations (IJCIC) som han träffade i en privat audiens. IJCIC bygger relationer med Katolska kyrkan, ortodoxa kyrkor, Kyrkornas världsråd och andra internationella kristna institutioner.

Påven hänvisade till Andra Vatikankonciliets deklaration om Katolska kyrkans relation till icke-kristna religioner,  Nostra  Aetate:

I cannot fail to mention what was solemnly stated by the Second Vatican Council in paragraph 4 of the Declaration Nostra Aetate, as it remains for the Catholic Church a key point of reference for relations with the Jewish people.  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” and who also firmly condemned hatred, persecution and all forms of anti-Semitism. Due to our common roots, a Christian cannot be anti-Semitic!

Hela talet här.