| "This is the disciple who is bearing witness to these things, and who has written these things; and we know that his testimony is true." John 21:24 |
| “The Charlotte Observer” October 17, 2005 "Bishops make pilgrimage to interfaith friendship" By Jeffrey Kirby Special to the Observer |
As a child growing up Catholic, I saw the pope on television and in pictures with a skullcap, which I thought was only worn by the Jewish
people. I wondered why the leader of the Church was Jewish.
When I was a teenager and I realized that the pope was Catholic, I laughed at myself. I had mistaken his headgear, called by Christians a
zucchetto, for a Jewish yarmulke. Of itself, it’s an innocent misassociation. Now, however, being older, I realize how close to the truth my
original wonder may have been.
Recently, a small group of American bishops participated in a Catholic-Jewish pilgrimage and study group to Auschwitz and Rome. Among
the bishops was Robert Baker of Charleston, S.C.
Meet Jesus, Meet Judaism
The meetings commemorate the 60th anniversary of the liberation of the Nazi concentration camps, where millions of Jews – men, women,
and children – were put to death in the gas chambers and ovens.
This follows the visit of Pope Benedict XVI to the synagogue in Cologne in August, where he declared, “Whoever meets Jesus Christ, meets
Judaism.” Therefore, as the representative of Jesus Christ, maybe the pope can be seen as a “spiritual Semite,” as a “Jewish” person.
Perhaps I shouldn’t laugh at my childhood thoughts.
The efforts of both Pope Benedict and the American bishops were labors to improve relations between the two religious groups.
The document of the Catholic Church that is the impetus for these meetings is Nostra Aetate. It was issued by the Second Vatican Council
40 years ago and revolutionized the thinking of the Church towards the Jewish people.
Continue the dialogue
Examples of this change can be seen by the removal of the Good Friday prayer that referred to the “perfidious Jews,” by new attempts to
understand Hebrew theology and its connection with Christian belief, as well as a greater collaboration on issues of social justice.
In Cologne, Pope Benedict explained that he “wanted to continue on the path toward improved relations and friendship with the Jewish
people.” Later he exhorted, “We must come to know one another much more and much better. Consequently, I would encourage sincere
and trustful dialogue between Jews and Christians.”
The group of bishops sought to fulfill that suggestion. Led by Rabbi Joseph Ehrenkranz on the Center for Christian-Jewish Understanding at
Sacred Heart University, these church leaders were shown the Jewish Quarter in Krakow and the Auschwitz and Birkenau death camps. The
bishops and Jewish participants shared a joint scripture study on Psalm 23 and Isaiah 56. The group was hosted by various churchmen and
diplomats throughout their stay.
At the end of the trip, many of the bishops could voice a greater awareness of shared truths and endured hardship. They could assert, with
Pope Benedict, that all “have the responsibility of handing down to young people the torch of hope that God has given to Jews and Christian,
so that ‘never again’ will the forces of evil come to power” and that a more just and peaceful world could be built.
Jeff Kirby of Hopkins, SC, is a Catholic seminarian of the Diocese of Charleston, studying at the Pontifical North American College in the
Vatican City State.
people. I wondered why the leader of the Church was Jewish.
When I was a teenager and I realized that the pope was Catholic, I laughed at myself. I had mistaken his headgear, called by Christians a
zucchetto, for a Jewish yarmulke. Of itself, it’s an innocent misassociation. Now, however, being older, I realize how close to the truth my
original wonder may have been.
Recently, a small group of American bishops participated in a Catholic-Jewish pilgrimage and study group to Auschwitz and Rome. Among
the bishops was Robert Baker of Charleston, S.C.
Meet Jesus, Meet Judaism
The meetings commemorate the 60th anniversary of the liberation of the Nazi concentration camps, where millions of Jews – men, women,
and children – were put to death in the gas chambers and ovens.
This follows the visit of Pope Benedict XVI to the synagogue in Cologne in August, where he declared, “Whoever meets Jesus Christ, meets
Judaism.” Therefore, as the representative of Jesus Christ, maybe the pope can be seen as a “spiritual Semite,” as a “Jewish” person.
Perhaps I shouldn’t laugh at my childhood thoughts.
The efforts of both Pope Benedict and the American bishops were labors to improve relations between the two religious groups.
The document of the Catholic Church that is the impetus for these meetings is Nostra Aetate. It was issued by the Second Vatican Council
40 years ago and revolutionized the thinking of the Church towards the Jewish people.
Continue the dialogue
Examples of this change can be seen by the removal of the Good Friday prayer that referred to the “perfidious Jews,” by new attempts to
understand Hebrew theology and its connection with Christian belief, as well as a greater collaboration on issues of social justice.
In Cologne, Pope Benedict explained that he “wanted to continue on the path toward improved relations and friendship with the Jewish
people.” Later he exhorted, “We must come to know one another much more and much better. Consequently, I would encourage sincere
and trustful dialogue between Jews and Christians.”
The group of bishops sought to fulfill that suggestion. Led by Rabbi Joseph Ehrenkranz on the Center for Christian-Jewish Understanding at
Sacred Heart University, these church leaders were shown the Jewish Quarter in Krakow and the Auschwitz and Birkenau death camps. The
bishops and Jewish participants shared a joint scripture study on Psalm 23 and Isaiah 56. The group was hosted by various churchmen and
diplomats throughout their stay.
At the end of the trip, many of the bishops could voice a greater awareness of shared truths and endured hardship. They could assert, with
Pope Benedict, that all “have the responsibility of handing down to young people the torch of hope that God has given to Jews and Christian,
so that ‘never again’ will the forces of evil come to power” and that a more just and peaceful world could be built.
Jeff Kirby of Hopkins, SC, is a Catholic seminarian of the Diocese of Charleston, studying at the Pontifical North American College in the
Vatican City State.
