Pope Leo XIV reaffirms Catholic Church's spiritual bond with Israel in Buenos Aires

Pope Leo XIV reaffirmed the Catholic Church's spiritual bond with the people of Israel during an interfaith gathering in Buenos Aires, drawing praise from Jewish leaders amid rising antisemitism in Europe.

Pope Leo XIV reaffirmed the Catholic Church's spiritual bond with the people of Israel during an interfaith gathering in Buenos Aires on Monday, drawing praise from Jewish leaders amid rising antisemitism in Europe. Speaking at San Martín Palace, Argentina's foreign ministry headquarters, the pope said, 'Following the teachings of the Second Vatican Council, I wish to reaffirm the spiritual bond that unites the Church with the people of Israel.' The Second Vatican Council, from 1962 to 1965, shaped the church's modern strategies. Rabbi Isaac Sacca, chief rabbi of the Sephardic Community of Buenos Aires, called the statement 'a pleasant surprise' and 'very meaningful.' Rabbi Marcelo Polakoff of the World Jewish Congress noted the pope's use of 'people of Israel' as significant. Rabbi Ariel Stofenmacher connected the speech to the 1965 Vatican document Nostra Aetate. The meeting included representatives of AMIA and DAIA, and opened with a tango performance. It concluded with a minute of silence for world peace. The pope's four-day visit to Argentina began Sunday, Nov. 8.