VATICAN CITY, OCT. 9, 2007 (Zenit.org).- The president of the World Jewish Congress thanked Benedict XVI for everything he has done for the Jewish people over the past decades.
Ronald Lauder met with the Pope on Monday, accompanied by Michael Schneider, secretary-general of the World Jewish Congress.
The Jewish leaders' talk with the Holy Father focused on "interreligious dialogue and on anti-Semitism in a number of European countries," according to a press release issued by the congress. The Pontiff said that the issue of Catholic-Jewish relations was very close to his heart.
According to the press release, "Lauder said that the repeated anti-Semitic statements by the Polish priest Tadeusz Rydzyk, owner of the ultraconservative Catholic station Radio Maryja, should not be tolerated any more."
Lauder, the son of Estée Lauder and a former U.S. ambassador to Austria, called on the Pontiff to take strong action against those in the Church who want to do damage to what the press release called a "close and positive relationship between Christians and Jews."
The Jewish leaders also spoke of the possibility of joint initiatives on social welfare issues in poorer countries. They further discussed the importance of dialogue with moderate Muslims in order to ensure a peaceful future.
They emphasized the need to work together to strengthen further the relationship between the Jewish people and the Holy See. "We have made such great progress over the last four decades that it should be possible to work even more closely together," Lauder pointed out.
On Sunday evening, Lauder and Schneider hosted a dinner attended by a number of cardinals, ambassadors to the Vatican and officials engaged in interreligious dialogue.
ZE07100909 - 2007-10-09