February 3, 2024 12:43 PM ET
Pope Francis writes letter to Israeli Jews, condemning anti-Semitism
From CNN's Christopher Lamb and Amy Cassidy
Pope Francis led Mass on February 2 at St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City.
Alberto Pizzoli/AFP/Getty Images
Pope Francis on Saturday reiterated his condemnation of “all forms of anti-Semitism and anti-Semitism” in the Catholic Church in a letter to “the Jewish brothers and sisters of Israel” released by the Vatican.
He said it was “an expression of hatred against Jews, and Judaism is a sin against God.”
“We Catholics, along with you, are deeply concerned about the appalling increase in attacks against Jews around the world,” he continued.
“My heart is torn apart by what is happening in the Holy Land, by the forces of so much division and so much hate.” […] My heart goes out to you, the Holy Land and all its people, Israelis and Palestinians, and I pray that your desire for peace will extend to all. ”
“We pray in a special way for the return of the hostages, rejoice for those who have already returned and pray that others will soon join them,” Francis said.
Europe's Jewish communities are reeling from a spate of anti-Semitic attacks in the wake of a brutal Hamas attack in Israel.
In London, the Metropolitan Police reported a 1,353% increase in anti-Semitic incidents in the first week after the Hamas attack.
German Deputy Prime Minister Robert Habeck said: video message “Jewish communities move members away from certain places for their own safety, and today, almost 80 years after the Holocaust, the same thing is happening here in Germany.”
