Karol Wojtyła was the primary pope to go to Yad Vashem in Jerusalem
The West is experiencing a regrettable wave of antisemitism that’s as soon as once more inserting the Jewish individuals within the crosshairs of fanatics.
This wave of antisemitism is being promoted primarily by the far left and Islamists, however some Christians have additionally fallen prey to this brazenly anti-Christian hatred. As a Christian, I’m notably ashamed to see different Christians, and that’s the reason immediately, the day that the Catholic Church dedicates to Saint John Paul II, I need to bear in mind the go to of the Polish Pope to Israel in March 2000, 25 years in the past.
Karol Wojtyła was the second pope to go to Israel: Paul VI had already visited the nation in 1964. Moreover, Saint John Paul II was the primary pope to go to Yad Vashem, the World Holocaust Remembrance Middle, situated in Jerusalem. Moreover, throughout his preach, in 1994, the Vatican and Israel established diplomatic relations, establishing an apostolic nuncio in Tel Aviv and an Israeli embassy to the Holy See. It was a rapprochement that helped heal centuries of wounds between Catholics and Jews.
As I defined right here two years in the past, Saint John Paul II was very firm in his condemnation of antisemitism. On March 23, 2000, in his speech at Yad Vashem, the Polish Pope acknowledged:
“We want to bear in mind. However we want to bear in mind for a goal, particularly to make sure that by no means once more will evil prevail, because it did for the thousands and thousands of harmless victims of Nazism.
How may man have such utter contempt for man? As a result of he had reached the purpose of contempt for God. Solely a Godless ideology may plan and perform the extermination of a complete individuals.
The honour given to the “simply gentiles” by the State of Israel at Yad Vashem for having acted heroically to avoid wasting Jews, typically to the purpose of giving their very own lives, is a recognition that not even within the darkest hour is each gentle extinguished. That’s the reason the Psalms, and your entire Bible, although effectively conscious of the human capability for evil, additionally proclaim that evil is not going to have the final phrase. Out of the depths of ache and sorrow, the believer’s coronary heart cries out: “I belief in you, O Lord; I say, ‘You’re my God’.” (Ps 31:14).
Jews and Christians share an immense non secular patrimony, flowing from God’s self-revelation. Our spiritual teachings and our non secular expertise demand that we overcome evil with good. We bear in mind, however not with any want for vengeance or as an incentive to hatred. For us, to recollect is to hope for peace and justice, and to commit ourselves to their trigger. Solely a world at peace, with justice for all, can keep away from repeating the errors and horrible crimes of the previous.
As Bishop of Rome and Successor of the Apostle Peter, I guarantee the Jewish those that the Catholic Church, motivated by the Gospel regulation of reality and love and by no political concerns, is deeply saddened by the hatred, acts of persecution and shows of anti-Semitism directed towards the Jews by Christians at any time and in anyplace. The Church rejects racism in any type as a denial of the picture of the Creator inherent in each human being (cf. Gen 1:26).”
Three days later, on March 26, 2000, Saint John Paul II visited the Wailing Wall, Judaism’s holiest website and a remnant of the Second Temple in Jerusalem, destroyed in 70 AD by order of the Roman Emperor Titus. The Polish Pope left a note in English on the Wall with the following text:
God of our fathers,
you selected Abraham and his descendants
to carry your Title to the Nations:
we’re deeply saddened by the behaviour of these
who in the midst of historical past
have brought on these youngsters of yours to undergo,
and asking your forgiveness
we want to commit ourselves
to real brotherhood
with the individuals of the Covenant.Jerusalem, 26 March 2000
Joannes Paulus II
On today that the Catholic Church dedicates to the Polish Pope, I ask for the intercession of Saint John Paul II in order that God could assist Jews and Christians to take care of and strengthen their bonds of brotherhood and by no means permit these bonds to be corrupted by hatred.
—
Photograph: Yad Vashem. Saint John Paul II inserting a observe on the Wailing Wall in Jerusalem on March 26, 2000, throughout his go to to Israel.
