To the Catholic Members of the Australian Council of Christians and Jews,
Dear friends, on behalf of all members of the Australian Council of Christians and Jews, I extend my deepest condolences to our many deeply valued Catholic members on the passing of Pope Francis. His loss is felt profoundly not only within the Catholic Church but also among all who have worked for reconciliation and friendship between Christians and Jews.
It is particularly poignant coming at this time of the joyful celebration of Easter.
Pope Francis was a beacon of hope and a model of genuine interreligious friendship. His enduring relationship with Rabbi Abraham Skorka, forged in Buenos Aires and immortalized in their joint work, On Heaven and Earth, stands as a testament to the power of honest, loving dialogue between faiths.
Together, they demonstrated how warm friendship, mutual respect and open conversation can help to bridge centuries of misunderstanding and foster a spirit of fraternity that transcends doctrinal differences.
It was a symbol of the valuable personal friendships between people from different religious traditions that lie at the heart of our organisation. We saw this at our Gathering in February.
Throughout his papacy, Pope Francis accelerated the progress of Jewish-Catholic relations. He brought to the Holy See an unparalleled depth of experience in interreligious dialogue, grounded in personal friendships with Jewish leaders such as Rabbi Skorka and Rabbi Sergio Bergman.
These relationships were not merely symbolic; they were deeply personal and informed his unwavering commitment to fighting antisemitism and advancing the cause of reconciliation.
I remember being in Rome during a conference of the International Council of Christians and Jews in 2015 and the great honour I felt when I, as one of some 300 international delegates who were thus presented to him, was able to shake his hand. I also admired his fortitude.
Pope Francis’s leadership built upon the historic transformation initiated by the Second Vatican Council’s Nostra Aetate, which repudiated antisemitism and affirmed the shared heritage of Jews and Christians.
He embodied the Church’s renewed determination to eliminate sources of tension, to honour the Jewish roots of Christianity, and to promote cooperative action for justice and peace. His many gestures—visiting synagogues, opening Vatican archives, and regularly meeting with Jewish leaders—have left an indelible mark on the landscape of interfaith relations.
Within Australia, the Catholic Church has played a vital role in fostering dialogue and friendship with the Jewish community, as reflected in the ongoing work of the Australian Council of Christians and Jews.
Pope Francis’s example has inspired local initiatives, joint prayers, and educational efforts that continue to deepen mutual understanding and respect.
As we mourn his passing, we also give thanks for his legacy—of compassion, humility, and unwavering dedication to the unity of God’s children. May his memory inspire us to continue the work of dialogue and reconciliation, building bridges of friendship and hope for generations to come.
With heartfelt sympathy and solidarity,
Dr Ron Hoenig
Chair
Australian Council of Christians and Jews