By JTA and AARON KALMAN, TIMES OF ISRAEL— Pope Francis praised Jews for keeping their faith despite the Holocaust and other “terrible trials” throughout history, and reaffirmed Judaism as the “holy root” of Christianity. Francis made the statements in an unprecedented open letter to Eugenio Scalfari, a prominent Italian atheist and founding editor of the…
By TIMES OF ISRAEL— Newly installed Pope Francis accepted an invitation from President Shimon Peres to visit Israel, as the two leaders held their first meeting on Tuesday. The pope accepted the offer ”with willingness and joy,” a Vatican spokesman told reporters. No date has been set for the trip, which would be the second…
By ISRAEL HAYOM— President Shimon Peres will meet with the new head of the Catholic Church, Pope Francis, next week, during a state visit to Italy. Peres will leave for Rome on Monday, for a visit that also includes meetings with Italian President Giorgio Napolitano, newly elected Prime Minister Enrico Letta, and local Jewish leaders.…
By ALAN DERSHOWITZ, GATESTONE— Among those being considered to succeed Pope Benedict XVI is a notorious anti-Semite, Cardinal Andres Rodriguez Maradiaga of Honduras. His name has appeared on various media short lists and his photograph was featured, along with other possible candidates, on the front page of the Miami Herald. He was also under consideration…
Think on this: “If I forget you , O Jerusalem, may my right hand forget its skill. May my tongue cling to the roof of my mouth if I do not remember you, if I do not consider Jerusalem my highest joy.”…”Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion for…
By HERB KEINON, JPOST— After 14 years of glacial negotiations, Israel and the Vatican are on the verge of signing a long-elusive agreement that would formalize diplomatic relations, Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon said on Tuesday. Ayalon’s comments to The Jerusalem Post came after a meeting in Jerusalem of a working commission that has been…