Despite claims by some (non-Jewish) commentators that Pope Benedict will be a problem for Christian-Jewish relations, in today’s Jerusalem Post we read just the opposite.
Paradoxically, it is most probably his German background that has made Ratzinger especially sensitive to the Jewish people. One could compare his sensitivity, born of the soul-searching of a man born into German society, with the sensitivity of his predecessor, John Paul II, who was born in Poland, a victim of Nazi Germany. The past and future popes can thus be said to be bound by common personal memories of the evils of the Holocaust.
A second article confirms it.
“His election is confirmation of the cardinals on the issue of continuity,” Rabbi David Rosen told The Jerusalem Post Tuesday. “There’s not a single issue in which the new pope will not be in complete accord with his predecessor. After all, his predecessor appointed him to the most important theological post in the Catholic Church.
Rather than listening to the nattering nabobs of negativity, we should just go right to the source.
Actually the analysis by Sandro Magister of Cdl. Ratzinger’s position on a number of issues over which he disagreed with John Paul II can be read at Chiesa. I was actually rather surprised by the degree of disagreement between them. Pleasantly surprised, as many of these issues are critical. I think our current Pontiff could prove to be very good for the Church on many fronts.
Yes, and the ADL, of all organizations, had extremely favorable comments about Pope Benedict XVI. Amazing contrast in reality perceptions, isn’t it?