Pope sends handwritten Hanukkah greeting, reflecting that light was God’s first gift

The Feast of Lights begins this year on the evening of December 10; Pope Francis penned a note to his compatriot, Rabbi Bergman from Buenos Aires.

Pope Francis sent Hanukkah greetings with a handwritten note to his compatriot, Rabbi Sergio Bergman, from Buenos Aires.

Hanukkah starts this year on the evening of December 10.

Read more:
An intro to Hanukkah

The note, in Spanish, begins, “Dear brother,” and expresses the pope’s gratitude. He then recalls the last time the two celebrated Hanukkah together, “I remember when in 2012, I lit the candle in the temple on Arcos Street ….”

Pope Francis continues:

Light, the first gift of the Lord in Creation!
I wish all of you an existence illuminated by the Lord, with the light that enlightens paths,
teaches the true outlines of things, and draws us towards the horizon.
May the Lord bless each of you, your families, and your communities.
And, please, I ask you to pray for me so that I may always have the grace to walk in the light and not get lost in the darkness. For my part I pray for you.
Franciscus.

This letter from the pope will be read on December 13 at the Hanukkah gala organized by the World Union for Progressive Judaism, of which Rabbi Sergio Bergman is the new president.

Hanukkah, also known as the “festival of lights,” concludes this year on December 18.