Prominent representatives of Judaism pay tribute to the late Pope Benedict XVI and his contributions to the Christian-Jewish dialogue. “He was a historical figure and a great theologian who was always true to himself and his office, and succeeded in stimulating religious and interfaith debate even with controversial positions, for example, on the Judeo-Christian dialogue,” the German Orthodox Rabbinical Conference said on Saturday. . “Benedict XVI has always sought closeness to the Jewish community,” he said.
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Dialogue with the rabbis
His visit to the synagogue in Cologne during World Youth Day 2005, during which he actively advocated enhancing relations and friendship with the Jewish people in the spirit of his predecessors, remains unforgettable. Rest in peace, Pope Benedict
– we read in the statement.
President of the European Rabbinical Conference and former chief rabbi of Moscow, Pinchas Goldschmidt, said that “Pope Benedict XVI was a great theologian whose relationship with Judaism was central to his faith. Even after retiring, he continued to have dialogue with European rabbis, especially about the religious meaning for the faithful.” Catholics on the return of Jews to their homeland after two thousand years of exile.Goldschmidt describes Benedict’s readiness for dialogue with the Jewish community as a continuation of the opening made by the Second Vatican Council (1962-1965), with which the Catholic Church, among other things, began a new relationship with other religions.
Better understanding of Catholic-Jewish relations
In turn, the World Jewish Congress paid tribute to the deceased as an outstanding figure of the Catholic Church.
Benedict XVI contributed to the creation of theological foundations and a better understanding of Catholic-Jewish relations
said Congressional President Ronald S. Lauder. He recalled that “no pope before him visited so many synagogues, moreover, he always met representatives of local Judaism during his travels.”
Criticism of Homolek Rabbi
On the other hand, German rabbi Walter Homolka critically assessed Benedict XVI’s attitude towards dialogue with Judaism.
He did not make it easy for us Jews to investigate the truth clearly. He always conveys the victorious image of the Church, whose splendor is based on the risen Christ as something new, who left the Jewish environment of Jesus.
Homolka told the German Catholic KNA agent. According to him, for Benedict XVI, “no significant affinity results from a shared spiritual heritage.”
The head of the Jewish Community in Munich and Upper Bavaria, Charlotte Knobloch, explained that Benedict XVI was in intensive contact with representatives of the Jewish community.
As a man of spirit and speech, it is important to him that this dialogue should not be conducted just for the sake of dialogue – it must have content and purpose. For this commitment, I remain grateful to him
– she says.
“Reader. Future teen idol. Falls down a lot. Amateur communicator. Incurable student.”
