World Jewish Congress head praises Pope Francis
By REUTERS
LAST UPDATED: 03/14/2013 01:29
VATICAN CITY - World Jewish Congress President Ronald Lauder
congratulated Cardinal Jorge María Bergoglio, the archbishop of Buenos Aires, on
his election as Pope Francis I on Wednesday.
"Pope Francis I is no
stranger to us. In recent years he attended many inter-faith events co-organized
by the WJC and our regional affiliate, the Latin American Jewish Congress," he
wrote, adding he had met him in Buenos Aires in 2008.
Lauder praised the
new pope as "an experienced man, someone who is known for his
open-mindedness...a man of dialogue, a man who is able to build bridges with
other faiths".
"We look forward to continuing the close relationship that
has been fostered between the Catholic Church and the Jews over the past two
decades."
After praising the work of Popes John Paul and Benedict for
Catholic-Jewish relations, Lauder said: "We are convinced that new pontiff will
continue on this path, that he will speak out against all forms of anti-Semitism
both within and without the Catholic Church, that he will take action against
clerics who deny or belittle the Holocaust, and that he will strengthen the
Vatican's relationship with Israel."