Page 54 - October 7 - Teresa Pirola
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Pope Francis: Antisemitism Is ‘A Sin Against God’
14 December 2023
“ Following a letter by Pope Francis to Jews in Israel, I sought to draw the Pope’s letter to the attention of the Catholic community. I posted
this article about the letter on Lightof Torah”. net in December 2023 and published it in
Catholic Outlook (Parramatta Diocese) on 18 February 2024.
Pope Francis has written a letter to ‘his Jewish brothers and sisters’ in Israel (2 February 2024) in response to communications received and specifically in light of an Open Letter by Jewish leaders and scholars (12 November 2023).
In Pope Francis’ reply letter, he begins by lamenting the wars and divisions that are increasing all over the world. He then makes three key points:
First, he assures his Jewish brothers and sisters that he is with them in their grief and pain. ‘My heart is close to you, to the Holy Land, to all the peoples who inhabit it, Israelis and Palestinians, and I pray that the desire for peace may prevail in all. I want you to know that you are close to my heart and to the heart of the Church.’
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