Benedict XVI's coming visit
to the Great Synagogue of Rome
Translated from
the Italian service of
Oct. 13, 2009
Twenty-three years and nine months after the historic visit of John Paul II, a Pope will once more cross the threshold of the Great Synagogue of Rome.
The event, officially announced today by the Vatican Press Office, will take place on Sunday afternoon, January 17, 2010, on the occasion of the 21st Day of Dialog between Catholics and Jews, and the anniversary of an important historical event for the Jewish community of Rome. Alessandro De Carolis reports further:
It was Benedict XVI himself last month referred to his coming visit to the Synagogue of Rome in a telegram he sent on Sept. 17 to the Chief Rabbi of Rome, Riccardo Di Segni, offering his best wishes for the Jewish high holidays, from Rosh Hashanah (Jewish New Year) to Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement) and Sukkoth (Feast of the Tabernacles).
Initially, it was thought that the visit would take place this autumn, but it was thought best to do it on January 17, 2010, the 21st edition of an annual Day of Dialog for Catholics and Jews
[which the Jewish community decided not to observe last year because of perceived slights related to Pius XII and the Good Friday prayer for the Jews].
The Rome synagogue will be the third to be visited by Benedict XVI - having been to the Synagogue of Cologne in August 2005, and to the Park East Synagogue in New York in April 2008.
Soon after his election as Pope, Benedict XVI sent a message in April 2005 to Rabbi Di Segni saying he trusted "the assistance of the Most High in continuing dialog and reinforcing [the Church's] collaboration with the sons and daughters of the Jewish people".
On January 17, the day of the Pope's visit, the Jewish community of Rome also recalls an important page in their history, 'Mo'ed di Piombo', celebrated on the second day of the month of Shevat to commemorate an event they consider to be miraculous.
In 1793, the Jews of the Rome ghetto escaped the fury of a Roman mob which had gathered at the gates to set fire to the ghetto and penetrate it with hostile intentions, in the belief that the Jews needed help and protection against advocates of the new 'dangerous' revolutionary ideas from France.
[This explanation seems muddled. I will look up historical reference.]
Episodes of violent intolerance had already taken place elsewhere and the Jews feared the worst, when a providential thunderstorm followed by torrential flooding put out the flames that had begun to burn the gates, and dampened the ardor of even the most vehement protesters.
The appellative 'Mo’èd di Piombo' comes from the leaden color of the skies that day (
piombo is Italian for the metal lead).
In contrast, note the absolute lack of initiative for background facts in the brief AP acknowledgment of the news:
Pope to visit Rome synagogue in January
VATICAN CITY, Oct. 13 (AP) – The Vatican says Pope Benedict XVI will visit Rome's main synagogue in January as part of Catholic-Jewish dialogue.
The announcement Tuesday gave no details of the Jan. 17 visit.
Benedict said last month he wanted to go to the synagogue to show his "personal nearness" and that of the entire church to the Jewish community.
Benedict's predecessor, John Paul II, made a groundbreaking visit to the synagogue near the Tiber River in 1986.
Benedict has visited Jewish houses of worship during pilgrimages to Cologne, in his native Germany, and to New York.
The German news agency dpa reports from the Jewish viewpoint:
Pope to visit
Great Synagogue of Rome
Rome, Oct. 13 (dpa) - Pope Benedict XVI plans to make his first visit as Pope to Rome's Great Synagogue on January 17, 2010, for a meeting with the city's Jewish community, the Vatican announced Tuesday.
The German-born pontiff's visit is set to take place almost a year to the day when his decision to lift excommunication orders against four ultra-traditionalist bishops, including a Holocaust denier, caused the most serious rift of recent times between the Vatican and Jews.
Relations have subsequently improved with Benedict's admission that mistakes were made in handling the case of the rebel bishops.
The Pontiff has also since insisted that the four as well as other members of their group, the Society of Saint Pius X, must fully accept Vatican teachings on good relations with Judaism.
In 1986, Benedict's predecessor, the late John Paul II, made the first known visit by a modern-day pope to a Jewish house of worship when he visited Rome's Great Synagogue.
[Modificato da TERESA BENEDETTA 13/10/2009 16:24]