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Catholic World News News Feature

John Paul II opened new era, rabbi says May 11, 2005

The former chief rabbi of Rome, Elio Toaff, believes that Pope John Paul II ushered in a new era in Jewish-Christian relations.

In a May 10 interview with Vatican Radio, Rabbi Toaff said that in the past, "great misunderstandings" marred relations between Christians and Jews. "But today, I can say, that is almost completely in the past." He remarked that the historic visit by Pope John Paul to the Rome synagogue, on April 13, 1986, was in itself "an event that could overcome many misunderstandings."

Rabbi Toaff, who recently celebrated his 90th birthday on May 8, said that he had received a birthday greeting from Pope Benedict, for which he was grateful. He also called attention to the fact that among the new Pope's first official acts, he had sent a message to the Jewish community in Rome. That gesture had been keenly appreciated, the rabbi said.

But Rabbi Toaff spoke with Vatican Radio primarily about his memories of John Paul II, with whom he had developed a strong friendship. The Roman rabbi was one of only two living people mentioned in the late Pope's will (the other was the Pontiff's longtime secretary, Archbishop Stanislas Dziwisz).