Benedict XVI says the Church recognizes
Jews' historical connection to Israel
ROME, Dec. 10 (JTA) -- World Jewish Congress officials met with Pope Benedict XVI and separately with senior Italian officials on Friday.
The delegation, led by WJC president Ronald Lauder, asked the Pontiff to denounce the delegtimization of Israel.
"We discussed critical issues affecting world Jewry," said Lauder, “and we expressed to the Pope how much we value the close relationship we have enjoyed with the Vatican over many years in our quest for a secure Israel and a safer future for Jews everywhere.”
Benedict stated that the Church recognizes the deep and historical connection of the Jewish people to their ancient homeland, the Holy Land, going back to the time of Abraham, and expressed his commitment to help foster understanding of the bond between the nation of Israel and the land of Israel among people throughout the world.
In a related development, the Vatican released a statement Friday describing a "good and open atmosphere" in Thursday's latest round of talks aimed at finalizing bilateral economic relations between Israel and the Holy See.
The talks, held in Jerusalem, started with mention of the telegram the Pope sent to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressing his "prayers and solidarity" with victims of the recent forest fire and his appreciation of the "selfless dedication" of those involved in the rescue operation.
Later, Lauder told Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini in their meeting that the Jewish world "deeply appreciates" its "important and well-established friendship with the Italian government" and also appreciates "Italian attention to the safety of the people of Israel."
The World Jewish Congress was organized in Genea in 1939 to represent Jewish communities around the world in addressing the interests and needs of Jews and Jewish communities throughout the world.
It has been working mainly on the issues of the defense of Israel, anti-Semitism and the Holocaust, terrorism and the threat of Iran, and interfaith dialog.
Jewish leaders ask Pope Benedict
to combat delegitimization of Israel
By Shlomo Shamir
ROME, Dec. 10 - A delegation of leaders of the World Jewish Congress met with Pope Benedict XVI in the Vatican on Friday and asked the Pontiff to speak out against the "delegitimization" of Israel.
"We discussed critical issues affecting world Jewry," said WJC President Ronald S. Lauder said in a statement. “[We] expressed to the Pope how much we value the close relationship we have enjoyed with the Vatican over many years in our quest for a secure Israel and a safer future for Jews everywhere.”
Lauder requested that the Pope speak out against the "delegitimization" of Israel, particularly the denial of Jewish links to holy sites such as the Temple Mount and the Western Wall, as well as Rachel's Tomb in Bethlehem - a site that is holy to both Jews and Christians.
According to the WJC statement, the Pope emphasized the need to continue to combat anti-Semitism in the Christian world, which he characterized as unacceptable.
The Pope talked about the importance of Jews and Catholics working together to fight anti-Semitism in all its forms, noting Judaism's patrimony to Christianity.
WJC Secretary General Designate Dan Diker asked that the Catholic Church take a leading role in the fight against the "delegitimization" of Israel, which he called a new "politically correct" form of anti-Semitism.
Pope Benedict is said to have responded, saying that the Catholic Church recognizes the deep and historical connection of the Jewish people to the land of Israel and expressed his commitment to help bolster better understanding of that connection among people throughout the world.
THE VATICAN AND ISRAEL
COMMUNIQUE ON DEC. 9 BILATERAL TALKS
Permanent working Commission
between the Holy See and Israel
The meeting of the Plenary Commission took place in a good and open atmosphere. The Delegation of the Holy See was headed by Monsignor Ettore BALESTRERO, Under-Secretary for Relations with States and the Delegation of the State of Israel was headed by Mr. Danny AYALON, MK, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs.
At the start of the meeting, reference was made to the telegram sent by His Eminence Tarcisio Cardinal Bertone, the Secretary of State of His Holiness, to H.E. Benyamin Netanyahu, the Prime Minister of the State of Israel, conveying Pope Benedict XVI's assurances of his prayers and his solidarity with the families of those who lost their lives, to the wounded and to all who were affected by the recent forest fire in northern Israel, as well as "his appreciation for the rescue efforts which were carried out with such selfless dedication," and his prayers "that those who have lost their homes in this tragedy may soon be able to rebuild their lives."
The Plenary discussed the next steps towards conclusion of the Agreement.
The Plenary will hold its next meeting on 16 June 2011 at the Vatican. The next "Working Level" meeting will take place on 3 February 2011.
The Delegation of the Holy See (H.S.):
1. Monsignor Ettore BALESTRERO, Under-Secretary for Relations with States, Chairman
2. HE Archbishop Antonio FRANCO, Apostolic Nuncio in Israel, Chairman of the Delegation at the working level"
3. Mgr. Maurizio MALVESTITI, Under-Secretary of the Congregation for the Eastern Churches
4. Mgr. Alberto ORTEGA MARTIN, Secretariat of State
5. HE Bishop Giacinto-Boulos MARCUZZO, Latin Patriarchal Vicar
6. Mgr. Waldemar Stanislaw SOMMERTAG, Counsellor of the Apostolic Nunciature
7. Father David-Maria A. JAEGER, OFM, Legal Adviser
8. Mr. Henry AMOROSO, Second Legal Adviser
9. Archimandrite Maher ABBOUD
10. Father Pietro FELET, SCJ
11. Father Ibrahim FALTAS, OFM
12. Father Giovanni CAPUTA, SDB, Secretary
The Delegation of the State of Israel (S.I.):
1. Mr. Danny AYALON, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Chairman
2. Mr. Shmuel BEN-SHMUEL, Head of World Jewish and Interreligious Affairs Bureau, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA)
3. Mr. Mordechay LEWY, Ambassador of Israel to the Holy See
4. Ms. Michal GUR-ARYEH, Dep. Director, Dept. of General Law, MFA
5. Mr. Bahij MANSOUR, Director, Department of Religious Affairs, MFA
6. Itai APTER, Adv, Ministry of Justice
7. Mr. Oded BROOK, Head of the International Affairs Division, Ministry of Finance
8. Mr. David SEGAL, Diplomatic Adviser, Deputy Foreign Minister's Bureau
9. Mr. Ashley PERRY, International Media Adviser to the Deputy Foreign Minister
10. Ms. Klarina SHPITZ, Chief of Staff, Deputy Foreign Minister's Bureau
11. Chen Ivri APTER, Deputy Foreign Minister's Bureau
[Modificato da TERESA BENEDETTA 10/12/2010 22:19]