‘We have fond and enduring memories’: Jewish groups respond to Pope Francis’s death

JTA – International Jewish groups and leaders are voicing their grief and condolences after the passing of Pope Francis.

Jewish Federations of North America associate vice-president of interfaith and intergroup initiatives Rabbi Josh Stanton: “Jewish communities will mourn the loss of Pope Francis, who leaves behind a legacy of friendship to our communities, condemned antisemitism as a ‘sin’, and reaffirmed the centrality of Nostra Aetate, which transformed Jewish-Catholic collaboration 60 years ago.”

Anti-Defamation League: “We send our deepest condolences to the global Catholic community on the passing of Pope Francis. His Holiness was dedicated to advancing Jewish-Catholic relations and repeatedly condemned the rise in antisemitism and extremism. May his memory be a blessing.”

American Jewish Committee’s Rabbi Noam Marans: “In this 60th anniversary year of Nostra Aetate, as we celebrate the positive transformation of Catholic-Jewish relations … we must also address the challenges that lie ahead. In that spirit, we are grateful for Pope Francis’s indispensable leadership and contributions in this shared journey. May the memory of Pope Francis be for a blessing.”

World Jewish Congress President Ronald Lauder: “While there were moments of difficulty, particularly in recent months, I remain deeply appreciative of his warmth, humility, and unwavering dedication to meaningful engagement between faith communities. On behalf of the World Jewish Congress and the more than 100 Jewish communities around the globe, I extend my deepest condolences to all those who were touched by his remarkable spirit. May his memory be a blessing and an inspiration to us all.”

European Jewish Congress Executive Vice-President Raya Kalenova: “We have fond and enduring memories of our audiences with the late Pope and his deep commitment to fostering dialogue with Jewish communities and fierce opposition to antisemitism.”

Jewish Council for Public Affairs: “We join the world in mourning the passing of Pope Francis. May his memory be a blessing, and may his vision for peace and unity continue to inspire us all. Our thoughts and prayers are with our Catholic friends and all those grieving this profound loss.”

Union of Reform Judaism President Rabbi Rick Jacobs: “The relationship between the Catholic and Jewish communities flourished under Pope Francis’s guidance. He honoured the shared heritage of our faiths and took meaningful steps to heal historical wounds, reinforcing a path toward mutual respect and collaboration. We especially appreciated Pope Francis’s consistent calls for dialogue and mutual respect between Israelis and Palestinians, emphasising the necessity of a two-state solution that ensures security and self-determination for both peoples.”

Park East Synagogue Rabbi Arthur Schneier, who received the papal knighthood honour from Pope Francis in New York in 2015: “I will forever remember his profound messages of hope, including one delivered at the Rome Synagogue, demonstrating his unwavering belief that faith and compassion can bridge even the greatest divides. Pope Francis was a beacon of light in a world too often torn apart by division and conflict, and his legacy of peace and harmony will continue to inspire generations to come.”

International Network of Children of Jewish Holocaust Survivors founding chairperson Menachem Rosensaft: “Pope Francis … was, without question, the most important and most influential religious and theological figure of the 21st century, not just for Roman Catholics, not just for Christians, but for Jews as well. He was the human face of true faith in and commitment to the human and humanitarian values of non-sectarian monotheism writ large, and he embodied a compassion and empathy that reached far beyond his flock to encompass humankind as a whole.”