The President of the World Jewish Congress, Ronald Lauder, met with Pope Francis at the Apostolic Palace in light of the growing conflict in the Middle East.
The Congress reported that the President asked the Pope to use his authority as a religious leader to petition for the safe return of the hostages taken to Gaza. Lauder described Pope Francis as quote “the only person who has the moral authority to do this.”
This is not the first time the Pope met with the president and other members of the Congress. Last November, he spoke to the group about the responsibility Catholics and Jews have in order to achieve peace in the world.
POPE FRANCIS
Our two faith communities are entrusted with the task of working to make the world more fraternal, fighting against inequalities and promoting greater justice, so that peace does not remain a promise from the other world, but is already a reality in this one. Yes, the road to peaceful coexistence begins with justice, which, together with truth, love and freedom, is one of the fundamental conditions for lasting peace in the world.
This year's meeting between the Pope and President also inaugurated the World Jewish Congress' representative office to the Holy See—the first-ever Jewish liasion office on Vatican soil.
KG
