Benedict XVI, the Jewish people and the State of Israel

Abstract

Benedict XVI has had to contend with invidious comparisons to his predecessor from the outset of his pontificate and this has been reflected in Jewish attitudes towards him as well. At the same time a selective loss of memory has occurred in relation to Pope John Paul II. By examining the documents and initiatives of Cardinal Ratzinger, as well as Pope Benedict XVI, this article shows that the idea that Benedict XVI is lacking commitment to the Catholic–Jewish relationship could not be further from the truth.

Keywords:

• Catholic–Jewish relations
• Israel–Vatican relations
• Pope Benedict XVI
• Joseph Ratzinger
• antisemitism

Notes

1. Pope runs into politics of Middle East, New York Times, May 11, 2009; Pope Benedict's visit to Israel dogged by controversy, www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid = newsarchive&sid = a3wW_GbMp9uA

2. Osservatore Romano, Vatican City, June 9, 2005 (text also provided by ZENIT news service).

3. Vatican website, www.vatican.va, Address June 9, 2005, text of Address, August 19, 2005.

4. Meeting with IJCIC, June 9, 2005, cited above.

5. Osservatore Romano, May 28, 2008, Address at Auschwitz.

6. Osservatore Romano, February 12, 2009 and Vatican website www.vatican.va

7. All speeches appear on the Vatican website at www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/travels/2009/index_holy-land_en.htm and on the website of the ministry of Foreign Affairs at http://www.mfa.gov.il/PopeinIsrael/?WBCMODE = Pr