Pope Francis at the Western Wall (Israel Foreign Ministry – Twitter)
Pope Francis, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio on December 17, 1936, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, passed away on Monday, following a prolonged illness. His death prompted an outpouring of grief and tributes worldwide. Jewish leaders also expressed their condolences today, including the heads of the American Jewish Committee (AJC), the Union for Reform Judaism (URJ) and the President of Israel, Isaac Herzog.
“I send my deepest condolences to the Christian world and especially the Christian communities in Israel – the Holy Land – on the loss of their great spiritual father, His Holiness Pope Francis,” said President Herzog. “A man of deep faith and boundless compassion, he dedicated his life to uplifting the poor and calling for peace in a troubled world. He rightly saw great importance in fostering strong ties with the Jewish world and in advancing interfaith dialogue as a path toward greater understanding and mutual respect.”
“I truly hope that his prayers for peace in the Middle East and for the safe return of the hostages will soon be answered,” he added. “May his memory continue to inspire acts of kindness, unity, and hope.”
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“In this sixtieth anniversary year of Nostra Aetate, as we celebrate the positive transformation of Catholic-Jewish relations and AJC’s unique leadership on that path, we must also address the challenges that lie ahead. In that spirit, we are grateful for Pope Francis’s indispensable leadership and contributions in this shared journey,” said Rabbi Noam Marans, AJC’s Director of Interreligious Affairs. “We stand in solidarity with our Catholic brothers and sisters during this time of mourning. May the memory of Pope Francis be for a blessing.”
Rabbi Rick Jacobs, the President of the Union for Reform Judaism, released a statement saying, “The relationship between the Catholic and Jewish communities flourished under Pope Francis’ guidance. He honored the shared heritage of our faiths and took meaningful steps to heal historical wounds, reinforcing a path toward mutual respect and collaboration. We especially appreciated Pope Francis’s consistent calls for dialogue and mutual respect between Israelis and Palestinians.”
Pope Francis served as the 266th pope of the Roman Catholic Church from March 13, 2013, until his passing on April 21, 2025. He was the first Jesuit pope, the first from Latin America, and the first non-European pontiff in over a millennium.
