Board of Deputies holds first official talks with Pope
President and chief executive discussed 'warmth of relationship between Catholic and Jewish communities in recent decades' at the Vatican in only official Board delegation visit in 262 years.
The Board of Deputies president and chief executive met Pope Francis at the Vatican on Wednesday, the first official Board delegation to hold talks with a serving pontiff in its 262-year history.
Marie van der Zyl, together with chief executive Michael Wegier, were in the front row for the Pope’s weekly general audience. Once Pope Francis finished his opening remarks, they were the first individuals to be approached by the pontiff and spoke with His Holiness for a few minutes.
A spokesperson said: “Marie thanked the Pope for the warmth of the relationship between Catholic and Jewish communities in recent decades and stressed the importance of that relationship, particularly in the UK. She also thanked him for his efforts towards Holocaust Remembrance and speaking out against antisemitism.
“Marie presented the Pope with a gift of a rare signed volume of the History of the Great Synagogue, by renowned British Jewish historian, Cecil Roth. The Pope, speaking in English, thanked the Board’s representatives for visiting him and was delighted to accept the gift. He said he would pray for them and asked them to pray for him as well.”
Van der Zyl said: “As two historic religious communities, the relationship between the Jewish and Catholic communities is of great significance and particularly in recent decades since Nostra Aetate, since when it has grown from strength to strength.
“As faith communities, we will continue to build on this relationship and work together to further combat bigotry, protect religious freedoms and create bridges of understanding.”
As part of the Board’s visit to Rome the pair also met the city’s Chief Rabbi Riccardo Di Segni and other Jewish communal leaders, and received a tour of the Great Synagogue of Rome, as well as the Jewish Museum.
Former Board president Jonathan Arkush met Pope Francis back in 2016 as part of a World Jewish Congress delegation, but this is the first occasion in which the organisation had met the pontiff independently.
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