Anti-Defamation League Hopeful about new Pope

[Ian David]

From: Anti-Defamation League <[e-mail]>

Pope Benedict XVI: The Successor to John Paul II

Jews can never ignore the announcement of a new Pope. Too much of
Jewish history for two millennia was affected, often negatively, by
the policies and attitudes of the individual who sat on the throne of
St. Peter. And now, following the papacy that represented the high
point of Catholic-Jewish relations, the appearance of Pope Benedict
XVI stirs interest in how John Paul's legacy of reconciliation with
the Jews will be carried on.

To start with, the new Pope will not have to be educated anew about
all that changed over the last two decades. He has been intimately
aware of all that has transpired.

As a European and as a German, his sensitivities to the horrors
committed against the Jews of Europe in the 20th century are
pronounced. He has written that because of the Shoah "a new vision of
the relationship between the Church and Israel has been born: a
sincere willingness to overcome every kind of anti-Judaism and to
initiate a constructive dialogue based on knowledge of each other and
on reconciliation."

He has spoken about the history of Christianity which gave birth to
many cases of anti-Jewish attitudes which "throughout history have led
to deplorable acts of violence." And he acknowledged that many
Christians did not resist the Shoah because of "an inherited
anti-Judaism present in the hearts of not a few Christians."

Pope John Paul II's reconciliation with Jews was profound and
multilayered. He expressed it through symbolism and dramatic gestures.
He spoke to Jewish insecurity. He understood that the debasement of
Jews by the Church through the centuries required statements and
decisions showing respect for Jews and Judaism. And he knew that
doctrinal positions were vital to institutionalize change.

There is every reason to believe that the new Pope will sustain the
reconciliation that his predecessor introduced. What forms this will
take is unknown and uncertain. He is a different personality but his
task will be to both maintain the kinds of remarkable breakthroughs of
the past few years as well as to broaden and deepen what has taken
place.

Finally, much has been made of the fact that as a teenager, Cardinal
Ratzinger was a member of the Hitler Youth in Germany. What is far
more significant is that all his life he has atoned for this fact. ADL
has had opportunities to work with Cardinal Ratzinger and we look
forward to continuing that relationship.



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The Anti-Defamation League is a not-for-profit organization recognized as tax-exempt under Internal Revenue Code section 501(c)(3). Our mission is to stop, by appeals to reason and conscience and, if necessary, by appeals to law, the defamation of the Jewish people. Our ultimate purpose is to secure justice and fair treatment for all people.