Comments (0)Jewish Delegation Meets Vatican Officials in Rome
March 19, 2010Rome
JTA Wire Service
“Delicate issues” including the role of Pope Pius XII in World War II are at the heart of talks in Rome between an international Jewish delegation and senior Vatican officials.
The two days of meetings between the International Jewish Committee for Inter-Religious Consultations, a Jewish interfaith umbrella body, and Vatican officials began Tuesday, according to a statement.
The focus of the talks, it said, “will be some delicate issues, such as the archives, the beatification of Pope Pius XII, the fight against anti-Semitism, and commitment to dialogue in the spirit of the Second Vatican Council.”
Pope Benedict XVI angered many Jews in December when he green-lighted Pius XII’s advance to beatification and sainthood. Critics say Pius turned a blind eye to Jewish suffering in the Holocaust.
Many scholars have called on the Vatican to open its secret archives to clarify the issue before moving forward with the sainthood process.
The IJCIC delegation is headed by the organization’s chair, Rabbi Richard Marker, and includes Maram Stern, secretary general of the World Jewish Congress. They are meeting with Vatican officials including Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, the Vatican secretary of state, and Cardinal Jean Louis Tauran, president of the Papal Council for Interreligious Dialogue.
Hungary Salutes Four Jews
Four well-known Jews received Hungarian state awards.
The awards were presented this week during ceremonies commemorating the 1848 Hungarian Revolution and subsequent war of independence against Habsburg rule.
Istvan Gabor Benedek, founder and editor in chief of Remeny (Hope), an authoritative Jewish political and cultural journal, received the Golden Pen Award of the National Coalition of Hungarian Journalists.
Rabbi Arthur Schneier of New York’s Park East Synagogue and the leader of the Appeal of Conscience foundation dedicated to human rights and religious tolerance, received the highest Order of Merit of the Hungarian Republic awarded to any foreign resident.
Tamas Ungvari, author, translator, critic and teacher, received the Szechenyi Award from President Laszlo Solyom at the recommendation of Prime Minister Gordon Bajani in recognition of a lifetime of achievements.
Laszlo Herczog, chairman of the Hungarian Orthodox Jewish Community, received the Hungarian Knight’s Cross of Merit/Civilian Category.
Some 20,000 Jewish-Hungarian officers and soldiers participated in the 1848-49 war. Their widely acknowledged bravery in battle was a contributing factor in the subsequent emancipation of Hungarian Jewry.
Australian FM Pledges Friendship to Israel
Australia’s “longstanding and enduring” bilateral relations with Israel will continue, despite the diplomatic standoff over the alleged fraud of Australian passports, its foreign minister said.
Stephen Smith made the remarks, in an apparent easing of tensions, at Parliament House in Canberra Wednesday as he formally received a policy paper produced by the Australia Israel Leadership Forum following its conference in Melbourne last December.
The paper outlines four key areas in which the two governments could collaborate further, said the forum’s founder and chair, Albert Dadon. Those areas are cooperation on Indigenous health issues; increased military links; a free trade Agreement; and optimizing current treaties.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who also received the paper, sent a letter which said that “I believe we can expand cooperation between our countries in a variety of areas, including military issues, trade and health.”
In the wake of the revelation that four Australian passports had been fraudulently used in the assassination of a Hamas official in Dubai on Jan. 19, Smith summoned Israeli Ambassador Yuval Rotem and told him that if it emerged that the Mossad had stolen the passports, it would not be considered “the act of a friend.”
But on Wednesday he was more conciliatory.
“The friendship between Australia and Israel is longstanding and enduring, and that will continue,” Smith said. “And despite recent events, which have been the cause of public commentary between Australia and Israel, that friendship will endure.”
Deputy Opposition leader Julie Bishop went further, saying that “Controversies will arise from time to time. There may even be tensions in the relationship from time to time. But we must never lose sight of the fundamental and underlying principle, which is non-negotiable, and that is Israel’s right to exist as an independent state within secure borders so that its people may live in peace and safety.”
This story reprinted courtesy of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency.