Pope Leo XIV has signaled his commitment to deepening ties with the Jewish community, making interreligious dialogue a priority from the very start of his pontificate. In one of his first public messages, he reaffirmed the Catholic Church’s dedication to the principles of Nostra Aetate, the Second Vatican Council’s landmark declaration that transformed Jewish-Catholic relations 60 years ago.
A message of continuity and cooperation
On May 8, the day of his election, Pope Leo sent a message to Rabbi Noam Marans, director of interreligious affairs at the American Jewish Committee (AJC), promising to “continue and strengthen the church’s dialogue and cooperation with the Jewish people in the spirit of the Second Vatican Council’s declaration Nostra Aetate.”
This message, reported by Justin McLellan of Catholic News Service, was shared on the AJC’s X account on May 13.
Promulgated in 1965, Nostra Aetate marked a profound shift in the Church’s relationship with Judaism, rejecting centuries-old prejudices and affirming the spiritual bond between Christians and Jews. It explicitly condemned all forms of antisemitism, recognizing the shared heritage and deep spiritual ties that link the two faiths.
A personal gesture to Rome’s Jewish community
Pope Leo also reached out personally to Rabbi Riccardo Di Segni, the chief rabbi of Rome, notifying him of his election and pledging to continue this path of dialogue. According to a statement posted on May 13 by the Jewish community of Rome, the chief rabbi responded with gratitude, welcoming the Pope’s words as a positive step for Jewish-Catholic relations. Di Segni is expected to attend the Pope’s inauguration ceremony on May 18.
The legacy of Nostra Aetate
Promulgated in 1965, Nostra Aetate fundamentally transformed the Catholic Church’s relationship with the Jewish people. This groundbreaking declaration rejected centuries of prejudice, affirming the spiritual bond between Christians and Jews and explicitly condemning all forms of antisemitism.
The document recognized that the Church’s relationship with the Jewish faith is unique, rooted in the shared heritage of the Hebrew Bible and the promises made to the patriarchs. It declared that the Church “cannot forget that she received the revelation of the Old Covenant through the people with whom God in His inexpressible mercy concluded the Ancient Covenant.”
Crucially, Nostra Aetate also rejected the centuries-old accusation of collective Jewish responsibility for the death of Jesus, a charge that fueled much of the antisemitism in Christian Europe for centuries. It called for mutual understanding and respect, emphasizing the need to recognize the common spiritual heritage of both faiths.
In the decades since, this declaration has paved the way for a series of historic gestures, including the visit of St. John Paul II to Rome’s Great Synagogue in 1986 and the establishment of formal diplomatic relations between the Vatican and Israel in 1993. Today, Pope Leo XIV’s commitment to this legacy reflects a continuing effort to build bridges and foster genuine fraternity between the two faith communities.
Moving forward
Pope Leo’s early messages suggest a desire to build on the legacy of reconciliation fostered by his predecessors, including St. John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI. Francis' own work on this relationship faced the difficulty of the war in the Middle East. As tensions continue to flare in the Middle East, and with Pope Leo echoing Francis' calls for a ceasefire in Gaza, his efforts to strengthen Jewish-Catholic ties could prove a critical component of his broader commitment to peace and mutual understanding.
