Pope Francis meets with Amitié Judéo-Chrétienne de France

On Monday 12 December, Pope Francis met with members of Amitié Judéo-Chrétienne de France who were visiting Rome to celebrate the 75th anniversary of its foundation. The group was accompanied to the audience by Cardinal Kurt Koch, President of the Holy See’s Commission for Religious Relations with the Jews.

In his address, the Holy Father called to mind Jules Isaac, one of the founders of the organization, recalling in particular his involvement in the background leading to the drafting of “Nostra aetate, §4”, the milestone document of the Second Vatican Council relating to Catholic‒Jewish relations. Pope Francis recalled its words affirming the enduring relevance of “the spiritual patrimony common to Christians and Jews”.

Pope Francis thanked Amitié Judéo-Chrétienne de France for its commitment to the growth of mutual knowledge, understanding, respect and friendship between Jews and Catholics, and encouraged its members to persevere in its efforts, especially in our own times when attitudes of closure and rejection are becoming more common.

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