Rabbis, cantors plan to meet pope, thank him for efforts with Jews

Published: 2005-01-17

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- More than 100 rabbis and cantors were scheduled to meet Pope John Paul II Jan. 18 to thank him for his efforts to promote Catholic-Jewish understanding. The group of 130 rabbis and cantors, accompanied by about 30 Catholic friends, were to be the largest group of Jewish leaders ever to travel to the Vatican to meet the pope, said Salesian Father Norbert Hofmann, secretary of the Vatican's Commission for Religious Relations With the Jews. Rabbi Jack Bemporad, director of the New Jersey-based Center for Interreligious Understanding, led the group to Rome and was scheduled to lead the rabbis in asking God to bless the pope. "This is the first time in history that rabbis representing all branches of Judaism from all over the world have come together to collectively thank Pope John Paul II and the church for all they have done to build bridges of understanding and mutual respect between Jews and Christians," Rabbi Bemporad said in a statement.

Copyright (c) 2005 Catholic News Service /U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. The CNS news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed, including but not limited to such means as framing or any other digital copying or distribution method, in whole or in part without the prior written authority of Catholic News Service .