Israel Singer talking to Mgr. André Vingt-Trois in Paris in November 2006. (photo: Alain Azria)
Some 600 Catholic clergymen and French officials are currently on a four-day visit to Israel. The tour, sponsored and hosted by the Israel's Tourism Ministry, is led by the archbishop of Paris, André Vingt-Trois. On Monday night, Mgr. Vingt-Trois participated in a symposium at Tel Aviv University on ethics and security in the 21st century along with Israel's Sephardic chief rabbi Shlomo Amar, World Jewish Congress Policy Council chairman Rabbi Israel Singer and university president Itamar Rabinovich. Referring to Jewish-Catholic dialogue, Singer said: "This is no longer about exchanging nice words. We now have a true dialogue, including about former taboo issues such as ethics and security. The [Catholic] Church is our only exemplary partner in the religious world," he was quoted as saying by the French newspaper "Le Monde".
Rabinovich told the gathering that he hoped to see an increase in visits by French Catholic organizations to Israel. During the war with Hezbollah last summer, almost all non-Jewish groups and individuals scheduled to visit Israel canceled, including Catholic church groups. The pilgrimage includes a visit to the Galilee, Jerusalem and Bethlehem, and a meeting with Palestinian Catholic officials.
