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Yahoo
04-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Remembering Pope Francis' compassion for people of all faiths
Jorge Mario Bergoglio, better known as His Holiness Pope Francis, was one of the most compassionate popes, who was deeply concerned with all people, especially the Jewish people. I compare him to Pope John XXIII (1958–1963), who saved many Jews during the Holocaust. Rabbi Abraham Skorka, also from Francis' home country of Argentina, became one of his closest friends over the years. They wrote to each other as 'my dear brother,' and Skorka was one of the first people to be called by the pope after his election to that role. Over the many years that they were friends, they wrote a book together, "On Heaven and Earth." Skorka told me, when he visited Grinnell, that he gave Francis a number of Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel's books and Heschel often came up in their conversations. Even 50 years after his death, Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel remains one of the most influential spiritual leaders in interfaith dialogue, especially American Jewish-Christian relations. I can't be certain of his influence on Francis, but many of his key ideas have a strong affinity to those of Francis. For example, in the first paragraph of Heschel's classic book "God in Search of Man," he writes, 'When faith is completely replaced by creed, worship by discipline, love by habit; when the crisis of today is ignored because of the splendor of the past; when faith becomes an heirloom rather than a living fountain; when religion speaks only in the name of authority rather than with the voice of compassion — its message becomes meaningless.' This passage by Heschel, which warns against doctrine becoming more important than empathy, embodies the papacy of Francis. Additionally, one of Heschel's most significant ideas about biblical thought is his theology of pathos. When he was writing his dissertation, Heschel developed the idea that God needs human beings — that God encounters us before we encounter God. Francis shared the same idea when he said, 'God is first; God is always first and makes the first move.' When I met Francis in 2018, we had a brief, informal conversation. Francis asked me to pray for him. Meeting Francis enhanced my admiration for him because of his exceptional humility, his deep commitment to the poor and the environment, as well as his desire to bring healing among the world's religions, which is more critical for peace than ever before. He devoted a great deal of energy to interfaith dialogue, especially his attempt to bring peace between Israelis and Palestinians. His boundless compassion and love for all people, especially the poor, was truly inspiring. The audience with him was a very special moment for me because of his deep warmth, as if the sun was shining from his face to mine. Like Pope John Paul II, when he traveled, Francis met with members of other traditions, including Jews and Muslims. He was the first pope to visit the tomb of Theodor Hertzl. Of the many meetings that he had, the meeting that stands out for many Jews was his visit to the synagogue in Rome on Jan. 17, 2016, where he noted that over 1,000 members of the Jewish community in Rome were deported to Auschwitz on a day in October 1943: "Today, I would like to remember them in a very sincere way: their suffering, their anguish, their tears, must never be forgotten. The past must serve as a lesson for us in the present and in the future.' Judaism and Christianity are different religious traditions with conflicting truth claims. So the aim of dialogue is not to bring both parties to the same conclusion, but rather to keep listening to each other. In their dialogues, Rabbi Abraham Skorka and Pope Francis did not always agree. But Skorka agreed with the following statement made by Francis, 'Friendship can only be achieved by walking together. Knowing how to dialogue, respecting each other's position. Fighting like brothers and reconciling like brothers — it's an existential journey. I believe that God, who is the Father of all of us, wants it this way.' Francis had great affection for his Jewish sisters and brothers. May his memory be a blessing. Harold Kasimow, a Holocaust survivor, is the George A. Drake Professor Emeritus of Religious Studies at Grinnell College in Grinnell, Iowa. This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Pope Francis had compassion for people of all faiths | Opinion
Yahoo
24-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Commentary: A Jewish appreciation of Pope Francis
On Sept. 11, 2014, at the annual meeting of the Jewish Federation of Chicago, Cardinal Francis George told the audience: 'Before I went to the Conclave of the College of Cardinals this past February to elect a successor to Pope Benedict XVI, I asked Rabbi Poupko, 'What would the Jewish community like to see in the next pope?' He answered: 'We need a pope who knows us.'' This is who was elected pope. As archbishop of Buenos Aires, then-Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio attended Rosh Hashanah services at the Benei Tikva synagogue in September 2007. Bergoglio told the congregation that he was there 'like a pilgrim, together with you, my elder brothers.' In 2010, Rabbi Abraham Skorka and Bergoglio began memorializing their two decades of conversation in a book. Friends since 1990, the two had much to share. In the introduction to the book they co-wrote, 'On Heaven and Earth,' Francis described their friendship: 'With Rabbi Skorka I never had to compromise my Catholic identity, just like he never had to with his Jewish identity.' The Jewish people have good memories of Francis. One of the gestures of Francis' friendship with the Jewish people came early in his papacy. In 2013, in a letter to journalist Eugenio Scalfari in the Italian newspaper La Repubblica, Francis responded to the question: 'What should we say to our Jewish brothers about the promise made to them by God: Has it all come to nothing?' 'This question, believe me, is a radical one for us Christians because with the help of God, especially in the light of the Second Vatican Council, we have rediscovered that the Jewish people remain for us the holy root from which Jesus was born. I too have cultivated many friendships through the years with my Jewish brothers in Argentina and often while in prayer, as my mind turned to the terrible experience of the Shoah, I looked to God,' he wrote. 'God has never neglected his faithfulness to the covenant with Israel, and that, through the awful trials of these last centuries, the Jews have preserved their faith in God. And for this, we, the Church and the whole human family, can never be sufficiently grateful to them.' As the Germans murdered 6 million Jews, most of Christendom collaborated actively or passively with Nazism. In that time, the Jewish people gave witness to the one God. We alone were the sole sacred witness to the one God. Francis deepened that because he did not limit admiration and respect for Jewish witness to the period of the Shoah. He refers to 'the terrible trials of these centuries' in which 'the Jews have kept their faith in God.' He refers to the torment inflicted upon us by the Catholic Church and the Reformation churches throughout the ages. He affirms that the church and all of humanity will 'never be sufficiently grateful to them.' The pope affirms that Israel provided unique witness to the one God; that this unique witness came despite all the torment; and that Israel's faithfulness to the one God is a gift both to the church and to humanity. This is a remarkable affirmation of Judaism and the Jewish people. People do not often pay enough attention to performance theology. Instead of issuing formal statements and teachings in well-reasoned theological papers, occasionally a pope will act out, will express in behavior, a religious idea. In an act of performance theology while in Israel in 2014, Francis visited the grave of Theodor Herzl, the founder of Zionism, the Jewish national liberation movement. The honor paid to Herzl at his last resting place is compelling. One hundred and 10 years earlier, on Jan. 26, 1904, Herzl had an audience with Pope Pius X. Herzl sought the pope's support for Zionism. The pope replied, 'We cannot give approval to this movement. We cannot prevent the Jews from going to Jerusalem — but we could never sanction it. The soil of Jerusalem … has been sanctified by the life of Jesus Christ. As the Head of the Church, I cannot tell you anything different. The Jews have not recognized our Lord, therefore we cannot recognize the Jewish people.' Pius X established what was the popular and official Christian attitude to Zionism and the establishment of the state of Israel. Christian theology has had a difficult time accounting for the Jewish return to the ancient homeland. Francis' act of honor and respect to Herzl and to Zionism demonstrated that the Roman Catholic Church no longer holds any theological objection to the Jewish return to sovereignty in the ancient homeland. In every relationship, there are disappointments. It is because of Francis' friendship extended to the Jewish people that several of his statements on Israel's war to prevent Hamas from annihilating Israel were received with pain. The Jewish people will remember that as the sun set on Passover, Francis departed this life. He left behind the great Passover legacy, to ever seek freedom from slavery; to ever fulfill the mitzvah (commandment) to take care of the poor and the stranger. In these days following his passing, we know that his abiding friendship for us will never be forgotten. Judaism holds that good deeds will ever endure. This is his gift and legacy. ____ Rabbi Yehiel Poupko is a Rabbinic scholar at the Jewish United Fund/Jewish Federation of Chicago ___
Chicago Tribune
23-04-2025
- Politics
- Chicago Tribune
Rabbi Yehiel Poupko: A Jewish appreciation of Pope Francis
On Sept. 11, 2014, at the annual meeting of the Jewish Federation of Chicago, Cardinal Francis George told the audience: 'Before I went to the Conclave of the College of Cardinals this past February to elect a successor to Pope Benedict XVI, I asked Rabbi Poupko, 'What would the Jewish community like to see in the next pope?' He answered: 'We need a pope who knows us.'' This is who was elected pope. As archbishop of Buenos Aires, then-Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio attended Rosh Hashanah services at the Benei Tikva synagogue in September 2007. Bergoglio told the congregation that he was there 'like a pilgrim, together with you, my elder brothers.' In 2010, Rabbi Abraham Skorka and Bergoglio began memorializing their two decades of conversation in a book. Friends since 1990, the two had much to share. In the introduction to the book they co-wrote, 'On Heaven and Earth,' Francis described their friendship: 'With Rabbi Skorka I never had to compromise my Catholic identity, just like he never had to with his Jewish identity.' The Jewish people have good memories of Francis. One of the gestures of Francis' friendship with the Jewish people came early in his papacy. In 2013, in a letter to journalist Eugenio Scalfari in the Italian newspaper la Repubblica, Francis responded to the question: 'What we should say to our Jewish brothers about the promise made to them by God: Has it all come to nothing?' 'This question, believe me, is a radical one for us Christians because with the help of God, especially in the light of the Second Vatican Council, we have rediscovered that the Jewish people remain for us the holy root from which Jesus was born. I too have cultivated many friendships through the years with my Jewish brothers in Argentina and often while in prayer, as my mind turned to the terrible experience of the Shoah, I looked to God,' he wrote. 'God has never neglected his faithfulness to the covenant with Israel, and that, through the awful trials of these last centuries, the Jews have preserved their faith in God. And for this, we, the Church and the whole human family, can never be sufficiently grateful to them.' As the Germans murdered 6 million Jews, most of Christendom collaborated actively or passively with Nazism. In that time, the Jewish people gave witness to the one God. We alone were the sole sacred witness to the one God. Francis deepened that because he did not limit admiration and respect for Jewish witness to the period of the Shoah. He refers to 'the terrible trials of these centuries' in which 'the Jews have kept their faith in God.' He refers to the torment inflicted upon us by the Catholic Church and the Reformation churches throughout the ages. He affirms that the church and all of humanity will 'never be sufficiently grateful to them.' The pope affirms that Israel provided unique witness to the one God; that this unique witness came despite all the torment; and that Israel's faithfulness to the one God is a gift both to the church and to humanity. This is a remarkable affirmation of Judaism and the Jewish people. People do not often pay enough attention to performance theology. Instead of issuing formal statements and teachings in well-reasoned theological papers, occasionally a pope will act out, will express in behavior, a religious idea. In an act of performance theology while in Israel in 2014, Francis visited the grave of Theodor Herzl, the founder of Zionism, the Jewish national liberation movement. The honor paid Herzl at his last resting place is compelling. One hundred and 10 years earlier, on Jan. 26, 1904, Herzl had an audience with Pope Pius X. Herzl sought the pope's support for Zionism. The pope replied, 'We cannot give approval to this movement. We cannot prevent the Jews from going to Jerusalem — but we could never sanction it. The soil of Jerusalem … has been sanctified by the life of Jesus Christ. As the Head of the Church, I cannot tell you anything different. The Jews have not recognized our Lord, therefore we cannot recognize the Jewish people.' Pius X established what was the popular and official Christian attitude to Zionism and the establishment of the state of Israel. Christian theology has had a difficult time accounting for the Jewish return to the ancient homeland. Francis' act of honor and respect to Herzl and to Zionism demonstrated that the Roman Catholic Church no longer holds any theological objection to the Jewish return to sovereignty in the ancient homeland. In every relationship, there are disappointments. It is because of Francis' friendship extended to the Jewish people that several of his statements on Israel's war to prevent Hamas from annihilating Israel were received with pain. The Jewish people will remember that as the sun set on Passover, Francis departed this life. He left behind the great Passover legacy, to ever seek freedom from slavery; to ever fulfill the mitzvah (commandment) to take care of the poor and the stranger. In these days following his passing, we know that his abiding friendship for us will never be forgotten. Judaism holds that good deeds will ever endure. This is his gift and legacy.
Hindustan Times
22-04-2025
- General
- Hindustan Times
Who is Amalia Damonte? The woman to whom Pope Francis sent a love letter before priesthood; ‘If I do not marry you…'
Pope Francis, who was born as Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Argentina, suffered a brain stroke and died on Monday at the age of 88. His demise has brought attention towards his adolescent romance when he fell in love with his neighbour. Jorge, however, suffered a heartbreak and decided to pursue a career as a priest. He eventually became the first Latin American Pope. During his reign, the Church's practices, operations, and discourse underwent substantial modifications. Born into a family of Italian immigrants, he spent his early and teenage years in the capital, where he finished his education and obtained a degree in chemistry. Over this time, he opted for several jobs, such as cleaning staff, chemical lab technician, and nightclub bouncer. He also had significant spiritual awakenings during this period, which motivated him to seek the priesthood. It is believed that a heartbreak affected his choice to become a priest. In conversations and books like 'On Heaven and Earth' and 'The Name of God is Mercy,' Pope Francis opened up about his desires in young age. He felt typical emotions like love and even wanted to start a family. Also Read: What happens to Pope's 'Fisherman's Ring' after his death? Will it be destroyed? He fell in love with Amalia Demonte, who lived four doors away in the Membrillar Street in Buenos Aires. Ten years later, Amalia appeared in an interview with the Associated Press and recounted that Jorge had sent a love letter to her, causing unexpected trouble to her. Amalia recalled a tiny wooden home with a red roof that Jorge had constructed for her, bearing the inscription, 'This is what I will buy when we get married.' 'If I do not marry you, I will become a priest,' read the young Jorge's love letter. In the interview, Amalia clarified that these were just thoughts of a youngster. Amalia's strict parents became furious when they found the love letter. She told reporters how her mother confronted her about getting letters from a boy and destroyed the wooden hut Jorge had built for her.
News18
22-04-2025
- General
- News18
'If I Don't Marry You, I'll Become A Priest': When A Young Pope Francis Failed In Love
Last Updated: Pope Francis, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio, fell in love with a neighbor in Buenos Aires. Heartbreak led him to the priesthood, becoming the first Latin American Pope Pope Francis passed away on Monday at the age of 88 due to a cerebral stroke. This has brought attention to his teenage romance. As a young man, he fell in love with a neighbor, but after experiencing heartbreak, he chose to become a priest, ultimately becoming the first Pope from Latin America. His tenure brought significant changes to the Church's ways, workings, and dialogue. Pope Francis, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio, spent his youth in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Raised in an Italian immigrant family, his childhood and adolescence were spent in the capital, where he completed his schooling and earned a degree in chemistry. During this period, he worked various jobs, including nightclub bouncer, chemical lab technician, and cleaning worker. It was also during this time that he had important spiritual experiences that inspired him to pursue the priesthood. It is believed that his decision to become a priest was influenced by a heartbreak. Pope Francis himself has recounted in interviews and books, such as 'On Heaven and Earth" and 'The Name of God is Mercy," that he had normal desires in his youth, including love and thoughts of starting a family. However, a larger purpose of serving God and humanity eventually took precedence. In his teenage years, Jorge fell in love with a girl named Amalia Demonte, who lived just four doors down in the quiet area of Membrillar Street in Buenos Aires. Decades later, Amalia recalled in an interview with the Associated Press that Jorge had written her a love letter, which caused her unexpected trouble. Amalia remembered a small wooden house that Jorge built for her, with a red roof, inscribed with the words, 'This is what I will buy when we get married." The love letter young Jorge wrote declared, 'If I do not marry you, I will become a priest." Amalia admitted in the interview that these were merely childish sentiments. Advertisement The love letter fell into the hands of Amalia's strict parents, who were very angry. She recounted to reporters that her mother broke the wooden house Jorge had made and confronted her about receiving letters from a boy. top videos View All Consequently, their parents did everything to keep them apart, leading to the Bergoglio family moving away from Membrillar Street. Amalia also moved on, eventually marrying and raising a family. Despite learning about Jorge's rise within the Church, she did not try to reconnect. Born to Italian immigrant parents in Buenos Aires, Pope Francis belonged to a close-knit family. Throughout his papacy, he emphasised humility over arrogance, charming the world with his humble style and concern for the poor. Get breaking news, detailed analysis, and expert perspectives on everything from politics to tech, so you can stay informed about what's happening around the world on News18 tags : Buenos Aires love affair Pope pope francis priest Vatican Location : Vatican City First Published: April 22, 2025, 12:48 IST News world 'If I Don't Marry You, I'll Become A Priest': When A Young Pope Francis Failed In Love
