In the presence of Silviu Vexler, President of the Federation of Jewish Communities of Romania, Pope Leo XIV paid tribute to the courage of Cardinal Iuliu Hossu, who protected Jews during the Shoah. This symbolic meeting reaffirmed the Jewish-Christian dialogue, rooted in fidelity to memory and truth.
The Sistine Chapel hosted a solemn tribute to Blessed Cardinal Iuliu Hossu, a Romanian Greek Catholic bishop known both for his resistance to communism and his courageous protection of the Jews of Transylvania during the Occupation. Marking this Jubilee dedicated to hope, Pope Leo XIV recalled the Church’s enduring fidelity to the martyrs of the faith – and to its fraternal bond with the Jewish people.
The presence of Silviu Vexler gave this message added resonance. Personally welcoming him, the Holy Father emphasised the deep significance of the encounter – not merely as a diplomatic gesture, but as a meeting rooted in a shared memory of suffering and moral courage.
“It is an honour to welcome you,” declared Pope Leo XIV, also acknowledging the representatives of the Romanian Greek Catholic Church. He recalled that Cardinal Hossu had been created cardinal in pectore by Saint Paul VI, while still imprisoned by the communist regime for his loyalty to Rome – an act of recognition for a pastor unwavering in his attachment to the truth of the faith.
The Pope highlighted Cardinal Hossu’s heroic defence of the Jews of Northern Transylvania between 1940 and 1944, citing his pastoral letter of 2 April 1944: “Help the Jews not only with your thoughts, but also with sacrifice,” he urged his flock. According to the testimony of Moshe Carmilly-Weinberger, former Chief Rabbi of Cluj, the cardinal was instrumental in saving thousands of lives.
By recalling this example, Pope Leo XIV reinforced the spiritual bond between the Church and the Jewish people – a relationship grounded not in abstract declarations, but in lived history and embodied moral conviction. He hailed Cardinal Hossu as a “prophet of hope” and quoted his poignant words: “God has sent us into this darkness of suffering to offer forgiveness and pray for the conversion of all.” This encounter with President Vexler underscored the pontiff’s commitment to acknowledging a painful, yet foundational, shared past – in order to forge a demanding fraternity, anchored in truth rather than the erasure of difference.
Finally, the Pope delivered a firm and resonant appeal: “Let us say no to all violence, especially when it targets innocent people – children and families above all!” A message of burning relevance in a world still torn by hatred and persecution.
On that day, in the chapel where conclaves are held, the Church honoured a faithful cardinal and extended its hand once more to those he had defended – affirming that, in troubled times, fidelity to truth remains the cornerstone of any lasting peace.
