Pope Francis condemned the “terrible increase in attacks against Jews around the world” and the global rise in antisemitism since the Hamas-led onslaught in southern Israel four months ago and the subsequent Israeli military campaign against the Gaza-ruling terror group.
“We, Catholics, are very concerned about the terrible increase in attacks against Jews around the world,” the pope wrote in a letter addressed to “My Jewish brothers and sisters in Israel” made public by the Vatican.
The war between Israel and Hamas terrorists in Gaza has produced “divisive attitudes in public opinion worldwide and divisive positions, sometimes taking the form of antisemitism and anti-Judaism,” Francis said.
“We had hoped that ‘never again’ would be a refrain heard by the new generations, yet now we see that the path ahead requires ever closer collaboration to eradicate these phenomena,” he said.
He urged prayers “especially for the return of hostages” held by Hamas since the October 7 atrocities and called for Jews and Catholics to promote Israel-Palestinian peace.
