Pope Francis told a Jewish delegation on Monday that “a Christian cannot be an anti-Semite.”
His remark comes as Jews worldwide are still reeling from the deadliest attack in American Jewish history, when 11 Jewish men and women were shot dead on Oct. 27 by a gunman who burst into Shabbat-morning services at the Tree of Life*Or L’Simcha Synagogue in Pittsburgh.
“I have always sought to emphasize the importance of friendship between Jews and Catholics. It is based on a fraternity grounded in the history of salvation, and it finds concrete expression in concern for one another,” added Francis. “Together with you, I would like to offer thanks to the giver of every gift for the blessing of our friendship, which is a reason and an impetus to mutual dialogue.”
The pope concluded with “Shalom aleichem!”