This week, a group of rabbis and Catholic priests from six Latin American countries will embark on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land, just days before the arrival of Pope Francis there.
"If we can establish firm ways of understanding between Jews and Catholics, we will leave our children a more fraternal world than the one we received," said Latin American Jewish Congress President Jack Terpins.
The program is aimed at further strengthening ties between Jews and Catholics, this time with participants from Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay, Uruguay and Venezuela. "This is the third time we hold a seminar like this, where it's been about 30 priests in the region. This time, it is special because it will coincide with the visit of the pope to the Middle East, and participants will experience the climate Pope Francis will receive upon his arrival in Israel", added Terpins.
The visit will be organized in conjunction with the Center for Jewish-Christian Understanding and Cooperation (CJCUC). The program focuses on lectures and courses with experts on various subjects of both religions and comprises visits to holy sites and a tour of the region to learn about its history and present.
The Latin American Jewish Congress is the regional chapter of the World Jewish Congress in Central and South America. It represents the Jewish communities in the region and has been a leader in interreligious dialogue for many years.
The Center for Jewish-Christian Understanding and Cooperation is an organization with vast experience in the relationship between Jews and Christians. It is based in Israel.
