Meeting European rabbis, Pope pays homage to deceased leader of Rome's Jewish community

April 20, 2015

Pope Francis met on April 20 with representatives of the Conference of Euroepan Rabbis, and used the occasion to pay tribute to the former chief rabbi of Rome, Elio Toaff, who had died last week at the age of 99.

Rabbi Toaff—who had welcomed St. John Paul II to Rome’s synagogue on a historic visit in 1986—was “a man of peace and dialogue,” the Pope said. The Pontiff said that he felt close to the Jewish people of Rome in mourning their deceased leader.

Pope Francis also spoke about his concern over the rise in anti-Semitism in Europe and about violence against religion worldwide.

 

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Further information:

• Pope Francis meets Conference of European Rabbis (Vatican Radio)
• Pope says Toaff 'man of peace and dialogue' (ANSA)