The English service of Vatican Radio did not consider this item important enough to be reported by them [perhaps they think English readers and listeners are not at all interested in a papal audience with the second largest component of the World Jewish Congress?]. But VIS does report on it, as follows, though both photos come from the CJL site:
Pope meets Latin-American
Jewish community presidents
Vatican City, May 10 2012 (VIS) - Benedict XVI welcomed a delegation from the Latin American Jewish Congress to the Vatican this morbning saying it was "the first group representing Jewish organisations and communities in Latin America which I have met here in the Vatican".
He went on to recall that "dynamic Jewish communities exist throughout Latin America, especially in Argentina and Brazil, living alongside a large Catholic majority", and that "beginning with the years of Vatican Council II relations between Jews and Catholics have become stronger, also in your own region, and various initiatives are afoot to make our mutual friendship deeper".
The Holy Father reaffirmed that the Vatican Council II Declaration
Nostra aetate continues "to be the basis and the guide for our efforts towards promoting greater understanding, respect and cooperation between our communities.
He said the Declaration not only took up a clear position against all forms anti-Semitism, but also laid the foundations for a new theological evaluation of the Church’s relationship with Judaism, expressing the confidence that an appreciation of the spiritual heritage that Jews and Christians share will lead to increasing understanding and esteem".
"In considering the progress made in the last fifty years of Jewish-Catholic relations throughout the world, we cannot but give thanks to the Almighty for this evident sign of His goodness and providence. Thanks to the increase of trust, respect and goodwill, groups whose relations were originally characterised by a certain lack of trust, have little by little become faithful partners and friends, even good friends, capable of facing crises together and overcoming conflicts in a positive manner.
"Of course there is still a great deal to be done to shake off the burdens of the past, to foment better relations between our communities and to respond to the increasing challenges believers have to face in the modern world. Nonetheless, the fact that we are jointly committed to a path of dialogue, reconciliation and cooperation is a reason for thanksgiving".
He concluded:
"In a world increasingly threatened by the loss of spiritual and moral values - the values that can guarantee respect for human dignity and lasting peace - sincere and respectful dialogue among religions and cultures is crucial for the future of our human family.
"I hope that your visit today will be a source of encouragement and renewed trust when we come to face the challenge of forming stronger ties of friendship and collaboration, and of bearing prophetic witness to the power of God's truth, justice and love, for the good of all humanity".
I had to go the site of the CJL to find out the name of the person who led the delegation:
Vatican City, May 10 (Translated from CJL) - The Latin-American Jewish Congress. led by its president Jack Terpina and the presidents of the various Jewish communities in the region, had a private audience with Pope Benedict XVI at the Vatican today.
Terpina noted that the relationship between Jews and Catholics in Latin America is "an example not just for positive coexistence but of friendship and cooperation".
In his talk, the Pope referred to the 50th anniversary of the opening of the Second Vatican Council this year and reaffirmed thatits declaration
Nostra aetate "continues to be the basis and guideline for our efforts to promote better understanding, respect and cooperation betwene out two communities".
The CJL site also contains the text and the audio of the Pope's address. If the setting looks unfamiliar, it is the Sala dei Papi (Hall of the Popes) in the Apostolic Palace.
Here is the Vatican's English translation of the Pope's address which was delivered in Spanish:
Dear Jewish friends,
I am very pleased to welcome this delegation of the Latin American Jewish Congress. Our meeting is a particularly significant one, since you are the first group representing Jewish organizations and communities in Latin America which I have met here in the Vatican.
Throughout Latin America there are vibrant Jewish communities, especially in Argentina and Brazil, which live side by side with a great majority of Catholics. In the years since the Second Vatican Council, relations between Jews and Catholics have been strengthened also in your region, and various initiatives continue to deepen our mutual friendship.
As you know, this October marks the fiftieth anniversary of the beginning of the Second Vatican Council, whose Declaration Nostra Aetate remains the charter and guide in our efforts to promote greater understanding, respect and cooperation between our two communities.
The Declaration not only took up an unambiguous position against every form of anti-Semitism; it also laid the groundwork for a theological reassessment of the Church’s relationship with Judaism and it expressed confidence that an appreciation of the spiritual heritage shared by Jews and Christians would lead to ever greater mutual understanding and esteem (No. 4).
As we consider the progress which has been made over the past fifty years in Jewish-Catholic relations throughout the world, we can only give thanks to the Almighty for this evident sign of his goodness and providence.
With the growth of trust, respect and good will, groups which initially approached one another with some hesitation have step by step become reliable partners and even good friends, capable of coping with crises together and overcoming conflicts positively.
Certainly, much remains to be done in overcoming the burdens of the past, fostering better relations between our two communities, and meeting the challenges which believers increasingly face in today’s world. Yet it is cause for thanksgiving that we are committed to walking together the path of dialogue, reconciliation and cooperation.
Dear friends, in a world which is increasingly threatened by the loss of the spiritual and moral values which alone can guarantee respect for human dignity and lasting peace, a sincere and respectful dialogue between religions and cultures is crucial for the future of our human family.
It is my hope that our visit today will be a source of encouragement and renewed hope in taking up the challenge of building ever stronger bonds of friendship and cooperation, and in bearing prophetic witness to the power of God’s truth, justice and reconciling love, for the welfare of all mankind.
With these sentiments, dear friends, I ask the Thrice-Holy to bless you and your families with every spiritual gift and to guide your steps in the way of peace.
Shalom aleikhem!
[Modificato da TERESA BENEDETTA 11/05/2012 10:46]