Vatican appoints new head of Jewish relations office

Bishop Kurt Koch of Switzerland receives warm welcome from Jewish community.

By JONAH MANDEL
Bishop Kurt Koch 311 (photo credit: http://stjohnsvaldosta.blogspot.com/)
Bishop Kurt Koch 311
(photo credit: http://stjohnsvaldosta.blogspot.com/)
Bishop Kurt Koch of Switzerland will soon be appointed by Pope Benedict XVI to head the Vatican’s Pontifical Council for Christian Unity – the office that oversees relations with Jews and non-Catholic Christians.
Koch will replace Cardinal Walter Kasper, who served in the position for 11 years, Vatican spokesman Fr. Federico Lombardi told the Catholic News Agency on Wednesday.
The American Jewish Committee warmly welcomed the appointment.
“Bishop Koch has a fine record of deep friendship with the Swiss Jewish community, as well as profound commitment to the singular religious and historical nature of the church’s relationship with Judaism and Jewry,” said Rabbi David Rosen, the AJC’s International Director of Interreligious Affairs. “We look forward to a close working relationship with Bishop Koch.”
B’nai B’rith paid tribute to the outgoing Kasper in a recent letter forbeing a true and faithful partner and for his “approach ofconstructiveness and healing” in his engagement with Jewish leaders.
“We have been privileged to know the warmth, openness and spirit thatyou have brought to your work,” wrote B’nai B’rith InternationalPresident Dennis W. Glick, Executive Vice President Daniel S.Mariaschin, and Director of UN and Intercommunal Affairs David J.Michaels.
“Your leadership of the council has been characterized by greatdevotion – indicative of the profound importance of, and immensestrides over the course of less than half a century in, theCatholic-Jewish relationship. Undoubtedly, your personal role in caringfor and advancing this endeavor has been significant,” the lettercontinued.
B’nai B’rith expressed the hope that even in his retirement, Kasper’scontributions would continue to provide an enduring foundation for theadvancement of relations between Catholics and Jews.