Joint Vatican-Israeli statement supports cause of environment, sanctity of life

January 20, 2010

The 9th meeting of a commission established by the Vatican and the Chief Rabbinate of Israel ended on January 20, with a joint statement calling for concerted action to addrss “a unique environmental crisis which is substantially the product of unbridled material and technological exploitation.” The statement said that the solution will come only if society will “recognize the transcendent dimension of Creation.”

The statement took note of the tragic earthquake in Haiti, which occurred during the commission’s meeting. The commission members expressed their solidarity with the survivors and their prayers for the victims. The statement also recalled Pope Benedict’s visit to the synagogue in Rome, citing it as further evidence of mutual respect. Finally, the statement called attention to efforts to identify the sites of mass murders in Eastern Europe during the Holocaust, urging religious leaders to support that research, “In order to learn from the tragedies of the past to protect and respect the sanctity of human life everywhere so that atrocities will never reoccur.”

 

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Further information:

• Conclusion of Ninth Meeting of Holy See-Israel Commission (VIS)
• Jewish-Catholic Dialogue Focuses on Environment (Vatican Radio)