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Rejecting antisemitism

• Pope Leo XIV said the Church does not tolerate antisemitism and opposes it on the basis of the Gospel.
• He spoke to the American Jewish Committee on the 60th anniversary of Nostra Aetate.
• He credited St. John Paul II, whose memorial day the meeting fell on, with strengthening Catholic-Jewish friendship.

Pope Leo XIV said the Church does not tolerate antisemitism and fights it on the basis of the Gospel itself (Kościół walczy z tym „na podstawie samej Ewangelii”. Leon XIV wspomniał Jana Pawła II – RMF24) (Leon XIV: Kościół nie toleruje antysemityzmu - Vatican News – vaticannews.va). He made the statement while meeting representatives of the American Jewish Committee, marking 60 years since the Second Vatican Council declaration Nostra Aetate.

The pope said differences of opinion, however deep, must never produce prejudice or hostility that undermine the moral foundations of society. He called for the rejection of all forms of hatred and of religious and ethnic discrimination, linking this to the defence of human dignity, service to the poor, religious freedom and peace.

Legacy of John Paul II

The meeting took place on the liturgical memorial of St. John Paul II, and Leo XIV credited him with greatly strengthening friendship between Jews and Catholics. The pope recalled a 1995 message from John Paul II to the American Jewish Committee, which said dialogue between Christians and Jews must find clear expression in the life of both communities.

Leo XIV said that message remains current. He thanked all those who continue to build relations between the communities on the basis of sincerity and mutual respect.