The World Jewish Congress Executive committee gathered in Rome and Vatican City with the express purpose of celebrating the fellowship of humankind and most especially the mutual respect between Jews and Catholics, a relationship which has made profound advances in recent years. For decades, and especially since the adoption by the Second Vatican Council of the Nostra Aetate Declaration, the World Jewish Congress has made great strides in forging stronger relations between World Jewry and the Catholic Church, with a focus on increased understanding and resolving differences between our people.
We are therefore honored to be have been able to hold the WJC Executive Committee meeting in the Vatican itself – a first, as far as we are aware, for any international Jewish organization – where we had the opportunity not only to discuss topics of importance to the Jewish world, but also to have exchanges with religious leaders of the Catholic Church including Pope Francis.
In a period overshadowed by a global pandemic and war, it is important to recognize our common humanity and that the essential values we share vastly outweigh that which divides us for the benefit of civil society. In short, all the noblest endeavors of which humankind is capable are united in these glorious cities, a reminder of all that can be achieved when we work together with a common sense of purpose.
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