Jewish-Catholic Ties Fray --- Many Jews hope for more understanding from the successor to Pope Francis

"VATICAN CITY -- Amid the tributes that flowed in after Pope Francis' death, a note of reservation stood out: Many Jews in Israel and elsewhere had mixed feelings about the Argentine pontiff.

The next pope will inherit a somewhat prickly relationship with Jews, many of whom felt that Francis showed little understanding of the threats facing Israel or their sensitivities over the Catholic Church's fraught history with Judaism.

At stake is the relationship between two religions with 2,000 years of history. In recent decades, that relationship has served as a model for interfaith dialogue, with the church acknowledging its long persecutions against European Jews and taking steps to advance reconciliation.

Strains in Jewish-Catholic relations could damage the international reputation of the church and complicate its efforts to act as a diplomatic mediator in the Middle East.

The Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel was a turning point in the relationship. Francis' sharp criticism of Israel's conduct in Gaza alienated many Jews in Israel and beyond who felt he didn't see Israel's perspective -- or the history of Jewish persecution behind it.

"A lot of Jews are watching with tremendous eagerness what direction the church ends up taking with the next pope," said Ethan Schwartz, a Bible scholar who works on Jewish-Catholic relations at Villanova University.

Political and religious leaders from around the world, including some Jewish communities, sent tributes and condolences soon after Francis died on April 21. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu waited for nearly four days.

The day after Francis' death, Israel's Foreign Ministry posted a message on X offering its condolences -- only to delete it shortly afterward. Netanyahu's office and Israel's Foreign Ministry didn't respond to questions about why the post was deleted.

For Jews, "the resurgence of antisemitism in the world since Oct. 7 reflects a lack of understanding of the threats Israel faces, if not outright Jew hatred," said Rabbi David Rosen, the former director of interreligious affairs for the American Jewish Committee. "Francis did not appear to appreciate this link and the extent of the trauma of Oct. 7 for Jewry."

The Vatican didn't respond to a request for comment.

The Catholic Church has had a problematic relationship with Judaism for centuries. The legacy of Pope Pius XII -- who didn't speak out against the Holocaust, making only oblique references to Nazi atrocities -- has troubled the Catholic Church for decades.

St. John Paul II took steps to redefine the relationship between Catholicism and Judaism. He established diplomatic relations between the Vatican and Israel, and during a visit to Jerusalem in 2000 prayed for forgiveness for the church's sins against Jews. The first pope to visit Rome's synagogue, he developed a lasting personal friendship with its chief rabbi, the late Elio Toaff.

"Gone are the days of the warm, tolerant, comprehensive Judeo-Christian dialogue advanced by Elio Toaff and John Paul II," Ariel Toaff, Elio's son, said on Facebook. He sharply criticized Francis. "Maybe he didn't hate Jews, maybe he even had Jewish friends, but he opposed Israel and its policy toward Palestinians."

Pope Francis addressed the war in Gaza a day before he died. "The growing climate of antisemitism throughout the world is worrisome," he said in his Easter message. "Yet at the same time, I think of the people of Gaza, and its Christian community in particular, where the terrible conflict continues to cause death and destruction and to create a dramatic and deplorable humanitarian situation."

Francis decried the "cruelty" of Israeli attacks that killed children and destroyed hospitals. He described the humanitarian situation in Gaza as shameful and likened the war to terrorism. Last year, he said he supported an investigation to determine whether Israel's actions in Gaza technically constitute genocide against Palestinians." [1]

1.  World News: Jewish-Catholic Ties Fray --- Many Jews hope for more understanding from the successor to Pope Francis. Stancati, Margherita; Keller-Lynn, Carrie.  Wall Street Journal, Eastern edition; New York, N.Y.. 01 May 2025: A9.