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Pope Leo XIV celebrated 60th anniversary on Tuesday Vatican The document that revolutionized Catholic Church relations jewsReaffirming commitment to talks at a time of rising anti-Semitism over Israel’s war Gaza,
Leo presided over a two-part interreligious commemoration of the anniversary: he first joined religious leaders from more than a dozen faith traditions in an appeal for peace in the Colosseum, then presided over an evening event focused on the historic document at the Vatican.
In the text, “Nostra Aetate,” Latin for “In Our Time.” Catholic Church Condemned anti-Semitism in all forms and rejected the charge of “suicide” in which Jews were blamed for the death of Jesus Christ.
The idea of the collective guilt of the Jews for the crucifixion had fueled anti-Semitism for centuries. The Vatican produced the document rejecting it because the Church took into account the role of traditional Christian teaching in the Holocaust.
The document itself was issued in 1965 during the Second Vatican Council, which modernized and revolutionized the way the Catholic Church relates to other religions and the modern world. It has since been credited with helping to improve relations between Christians and Jews.
In his remarks Tuesday night, Leo said the document was historic, marking the first time the Vatican had provided a theological basis for Christianity’s Jewish roots. He said it “takes a strong stance against all forms of anti-Semitism” and remains “highly relevant today”.
“This landmark document, therefore, opened our eyes to a simple but profound principle: dialogue is not a strategy or a tool, but a way of life – a journey of the heart that transforms everyone involved, both who listens and who speaks,” he said.
This year’s anniversary comes amid a surge in anti-Semitism linked to Israel’s military actions in Gaza following Hamas attacks on October 7, 2023. In the United States alone, the Anti-Defamation League says the number of anti-Semitic incidents reached a record high last year, with 58% of the 9,354 incidents being Israel-related, particularly chants, speeches and signs at rallies protesting Israeli policies.
The war has also strained the Vatican’s relations with the Jewish community. Pope Francis Jewish and Israeli leaders were repeatedly angered by comments they perceived as drawing a moral equivalence between Hamas attacks and Israel’s war in Gaza.
Francis met with relatives of people taken hostage by Hamas and repeatedly urged their return. But he called for an investigation to determine whether Israel’s attacks in Gaza constitute genocide and said Israel’s military response was disproportionate.
Tensions did not ease when Leo met with Jewish leaders and faith leaders attending his installation as pope in May. Greeting the Jewish leaders present, he recalled the special relationship Christians have with the Jews.
“Even in these difficult times full of conflicts and misunderstandings, it is essential to continue the momentum of our precious dialogue,” Leo said in May.
Rabbi Noam Marans, director of interfaith affairs at the American Jewish Committee, said acknowledging Leo’s problems is a big step in itself. In Rome to mark the anniversary, Maran said he expected the Vatican to continue a firm stance rejecting anti-Semitism.
He said in an interview, “Never since ‘Nostra Aetate’ has there been a greater need in the relationship between Catholics and Jews than for the Jewish people to have friends who are committed to combating anti-Semitism with every fiber of their being.”
He said, “The Catholic Church has one of the largest megaphones available. It has a moral drive that is unparalleled. We hope they will use all the tools in their arsenal to redouble that effort.”
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