Pope Francis asked to use his ‘moral voice’ to help free Israeli hostages

A delegation of European rabbis have met with Pope Francis in the Vatican and presented him with letter from the families of some of the Israeli hostages captured in Gaza by Hamas, asking him to use his “moral voice” to seek their swift return.

During warm, but frank discussions between the religious leaders, there was a reference to ongoing violence in Israel and in Gaza, and the troubling rise of antisemitic demonstrations across the continent.

While Pope Francis issued “strong condemnation” of rising antisemitism, he seemed clear in his view that “dialogue” rather than the folly of bitter hatred” would eventually be required to resolve the conflict in the Middle East.

The Vatican had confirmed on Monday that the Pope had been suffering from a cold  and had decided not to read a prepared speech to a delegation from the Conference of European Rabbis to save time so he could greet them individually.

But in a prepared speech he told a delegation of the Conference of European Rabbis, headed by the president Chief Rabbi Pinchas Goldschmidt, that”My first thought and prayer goes, above all else, to everything that has happened in the last few weeks.

“Yet again violence and war have erupted in that Land blessed by the Most High, which seems continually assailed by the vileness of hatred and the deadly clash of weapons.

“The spread of antisemitic demonstrations, which I strongly condemn, is also of great concern.”

Continuing Pope Francis added:”I would like to reflect on the art of dialogue. “Human beings, who have a social nature and who live in contact with others, find their fulfillment in the weaving of social relationships.”

Stressing how “dialogue with Judaism is particularly important for us Christians, because we have Jewish roots”, the Pope warned against “the brusque passion of vengeance and the folly of bitter hatred”.

He added:” How important it is, therefore, for us believers to be witnesses of dialogue.”Earlier the Pope had told the rabbis that he was not feeling well, adding:” I prefer not to read the speech but give you a copy.”

Jewish News was invited to Rome ahead of the delegation’s Vatican visit, and also to attend a dinner that evening with top rabbis.
Following the meeting Chief Rabbi Goldschmidt said:”I met with Pope Francis in the Vatican City in Rome to discuss the ongoing violence in Israel and the troubling rise of anti-semitic demonstrations across the continent.

“With recent news of violence in Dagestan and attacks against synagogues across Europe, the spread of anti-semitic behaviour was ‘strongly condemned’ by the Pope, who has long highlighted the value of his relationship with the CER and denounced anti-semitic violence of any kind.

“This condemnation highlights the urgent need to combat such violence and uphold values of tolerance and unity.

“I presented Pope Francis with a letter from the families of the hostages and the Pope shared with me, the urgency of returning the hostages to their families.

“We then discussed new ideas and thoughts regarding solving the current hostage situation.”

Also at the meeting was Dr Boris Mints who said:”It was wonderful to hear his condemnation of growing antisemitic demonstrations in Europe and his prayers for peace.

“He received the letter from the families of 242 Israeli hostages, which called on him to use his “moral voice” to seek their swift return, with solemnity and grace.

“Pope Francis’ blessing and message of tolerance and hope were gratefully received by all and it reaffirmed our stance to seek an end to the violence and hatred in Israel.”

Later on Monday, Italian deputy prime minister Antonio Tajani was among the speakers at a prize dinner held by the CER at the plush Villa Miani banqueting hall in Rome.

Tajani offered words of support to those attending the dinner, pledging the support of the Italian government both to its Jewish community, and to the state of Israel.

He also backed Israel’s right to strike back at Hamas after the October 7th atrocities.

In a his speech Chief Rabbi Goldschmidt warned that Hamas wished to take the world back to the “Middle Ages” with an ideology he said was “fake” and would ultimately fail in the same way the communism had.

The prestigious Rabbi Moshe Rosen prize was awarded to Benedikt Franke, chief executive officer and the now vital annual Munich Security Conference, which has attracted speakers including US secretary of state Antony Blinken and UK foreign secretary James Cleverly to it in recent years.

In a well-received speech Franke warned that “without an end to quasi impunity for terrorist states and organisations diplomacy will have no chance.”

He spoke of the urgent need to fight “radicalism and intolerance in all its forms.”