The visit of Pope Francis to Israel on May 25-26, 2014 marks an
important milestone in the deepening relationship between the Catholic
Church, Israel and the Jewish people.
In 1965, the Second Vatican Council adopted
Nostra Aetate
("In our time"), a statement of doctrine which rejected the charge of
deicide, condemned all forms of anti-Semitism and reaffirmed the
permanence of spiritual relationship between God and historic Israel.
But it would take another 28 years until the Vatican recognized the
modern state of Israel and
established diplomatic relations in 1993.
This was a development of huge political import for us, deepening our
relationship with one billion Church faithful, many in the developing
world. For the Vatican it had major theological significance, because it
meant that the Church now understood the return of the Jews to their
land and to history, not as a problem for Catholic teaching, but as a
reaffirmation of it.
I remember the incredible excitement which
marked the pilgrimage visit of John Paul II to Israel in 2000, and the
prayer note which he placed at the Western Wall, and which now resides
at Yad Vashem. It read: "We are deeply saddened by the behavior of those
who in the course of history have caused these children of yours to
suffer, and asking your forgiveness, we wish to commit ourselves to
genuine brotherhood with the people of the Covenant."
Copyright: GPO The
visit of Pope Francis will be the third Papal pilgrimage to Jerusalem
in 15 years. It includes prayer at the Western Wall, a meeting with the
Chief Rabbis, a visit to Yad Vashem, a festive interfaith event with
President Shimon Peres at the President's Residence, and a meeting with
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
In addition, Pope Francis will lay a wreath at the grave of
Theodor Herzl, the founder of modern Zionism.
Indeed this is part of the official protocol, but consider the progress
made since Herzl's failed meeting with Pope Pius X in 1904. At that
time, the Vatican rejected the national aspirations of the Jewish people
and called for their conversion, if perchance they managed to settle in
the Holy Land. A century and ten years later, our relationship has
transformed from deep rejection to equal footing, spiritual respect, and
political legitimation.
The Pope has a unique personal style, a
common touch, warmth and modesty, love of the poor, and during his
Cardinalship promoted a strong relationship with the Jewish community of
Argentina. Speaking to
La Republica in September last year,
Pope Francis made the following remarkable statement: "Through the awful
trial of these last centuries, the Jews have preserved their faith in
God. And for this, we, the Church and the whole human family, can never
be sufficiently grateful to them."
The Papal entourage to
Israel, Jordan and the Palestinian Authority includes a rabbi and an
imam, two friends of the Pope from Buenos Aires, but also important
symbols of his spiritual message to our region. I believe that his
message and personal example will resonate deeply with Israelis, in this
difficult time for peace in particular, and we look forward to sharing
with him his smile, vision, hope and prayer.
s.