Jewish-Catholic dialogue over the years has fostered a greater understanding and cooperation between the two faith communities. Historically complex and marked by periods of tension, the relationship between Jews and Catholics has recently seen concerted efforts by leaders from both faith traditions to improve relations. However, following the attacks in Israel by Hamas on October 7th, the Jewish community has faced increased persecution.

The 35th World Day of Catholic-Jewish Dialogue, celebrated this year, aimed to further interreligious dialogue. Organized by the Diocese of Rome, the Episcopal Commission for Ecumenism and Dialogue of the Italian Episcopal Conference, members of the Assembly of Italian Rabbis, and the president of the Union of Italian Jewish Communities, the event was held at the Pontifical Gregorian University on January 17th, focusing on the theme of hope.

Philipp Gabriel Ranczes, Dean of the Faculty of Theology at the Pontifical Gregorian University, described the conference's theme as the resurrection, the recomposition of people, and thus a vision of hope. He acknowledged the ongoing war and suffering, saying, “We are not yet ready for this; there is an ongoing war, and there are hostages. The suffering persists.”

Rabbi Riccardo Di Segni, Chief Rabbi of Rome, discussed how the intermingling of religion and politics could fracture the bond between Catholics and Jews. He expressed a clear intention to mend this fracture. Di Segni highlighted the importance of dialogue and understanding different sensitivities, particularly in the context of war. He noted, “Firstly, engage in dialogue—exchange ideas. Making different sensitivities understood, in some way, with the harshness of war, has been relegated to the back burner. That is, understanding what one feels, recognizing what is within our own experience in a given situation, and also acknowledging the experiences of others prove helpful in resolving conflicts.”

The conference also addressed the role of faith in promoting peace amid conflict. Di Segni observed, “At this moment, it seems that faith is doing everything possible to avoid promoting peace. Therefore, we must strive to reclaim everything that fosters respect for others and the growth of humanity within the scope of our faith and the realm of experiences and religious culture.”

The key takeaway from this day of Catholic-Jewish dialogue is the necessity for a genuine commitment to dialogue, listening, and mutual understanding.

Adapted by Jacob Stein