A renowned rabbi, known affectionately as “the Pope’s rabbi,” thinks significant improvements have been made on the relationship between Catholics and Jews.
That religious leader — Rabbi Abraham Skorka, of Buenos Aires, Argentina — visited Saint Leo University on Nov. 1 for a series of public discussions on interreligious dialogue.
Skorka cultivated a friendship with Pope Francis in the mid-1990s, when Pope Francis was known as Archbishop Jorge Bergoglio. Together, the men wrote the book, “On Heaven and Earth,” published in 2010.
(Courtesy of Amanda Topper)
The book is based on more than 30 TV shows they co-hosted in Argentina.
The 66-year-old Skorka described his association with Pope Francis as “a real friendship.”
“The relationship between us is not a political relationship,” Skorka said. “We share a common value — we speak openly from one to another.”
During the speaking engagement, Skorka heaped praise on Pope Francis, calling him an “extraordinary personality.”
“He tries to perform a real change in humanity,” he said. “He has spiritual courage.”
Deep dialogue, the rabbi said, is crucial to continuing to cultivate positive relationships between Christians and Jews.
“I do consider that there undoubtedly have been great improvements, but…dialogue depends on individuals. It’s not just a movement, but it depends on a great measure on the doing of individuals,” Skorka said.
He added: “If, in the future, we have people who have a great commitment in the concept of dialogue, then yes, we will go ahead.”
He added that Catholic-Jewish relations in the United States are “at a very good level.
“You already have organizations working on the theme,” he said, “and this is very important.”
However, Skorka said he’s witnessed a recent decrease in people practicing what he calls real faith, or living a “deep, religious life.”
He asked: “How many people are really living in a deep sense of religiosity?”
“We don’t really have great models — religious teachers. We are in need of them,” he said.
During his visit, Skorka was honored with the Eternal Light Award, which recognizes those who have made “outstanding contributions” to Catholic-Jewish relations. He was the award’s 13th recipient, presented by the Center for Catholic-Jewish Studies at Saint Leo University.
Matthew Tapie, the center’s director, also believes the relationship between Catholics and Jews “has become stronger” during the past two decades.
It’s partly due to the impact made by the late Pope John Paul II, Tapie said.
Pope John Paul II, who died in 2005, became the first pope known to have made an official papal visit to a synagogue, when he visited the Great Synagogue of Rome, in 1986. Additionally, he was the first pope to visit the German Auschwitz concentration camp in Poland, and often paid homage to Holocaust victims.
“His work is viewed by the Jewish community as enhancing the relationship between Jews and Catholics,” Tapie said.
Tapie said scholars feel the interfaith relationship can progress through interfaith partnerships for social justice action to help oppressed people.
“Part of the healing of relationships…has been Catholics being able to come to terms with a history of (Jewish) persecution,” Tapie said. “Insofar, the relationship is on the way to healing. There’s forgiveness, and forgiveness about a particular thing —persecution.”
Ida Margolis, who chairs GenShoah Southwest Florida, an organization for children of Holocaust survivors, agreed.
“It’s not just words, it’s deeds,” said Margolis.
“It’s the idea of getting to know one another,” she added.
Published November 9, 2016
