VATICAN CITY – Pope Benedict XVI expressed hope that Catholics and Jews would feel a greater desire to work for peace and justice in a troubled world.
The pope sent a telegram to Rabbi Riccardo Di Segni, the chief rabbi of Rome, to mark the Jewish holidays of Rosh Hashana, Yom Kippur and Sukkot.
In the telegram, released to reporters by the Vatican Sept. 9, the pope sent his greetings to all members of Rome’s Jewish community.
The pope said he hoped the holidays would be spiritually fruitful and joyful, and he expressed his hopes that “the desire to promote justice and peace, something which today’s world is in great need of, grow in all of us.”
Pope Benedict also recalled “with gratitude and affection” his first visit to Rome’s main synagogue in January.
In his telegram, he asked that God continue to protect Rome’s Jewish community and help Catholics and Jews both in Rome and the rest of the world “grow in mutual friendship.”