Pope 'committed to good relations' with Jews

Vatican City - Pope Benedict assured the world's Jews on Thursday that the Catholic Church remained fully committed to fighting anti-Semitism and to more reflection on the moral and historical implications of the Holocaust.

The Pope made his comments in his first audience for leaders of the world's largest and most representative Jewish groups from Israel, the United States, Europe and Latin America.

He praised a landmark document of the 1962-1965 Second Vatican Council, recalling that it urged greater understanding and esteem between Christians and Jews and that it "deplored all manifestations of hatred, persecution and anti-Semitism".

He added: "At the very beginning of my pontificate, I wish to assure you that the Church remains firmly committed, in her catechesis and in every aspect of her life, to implementing this decisive teaching."

Speaking in English, the German Pope told the 25 world Jewish leaders that he intended to carry on the work of his predecessor, John Paul.

John Paul, who died on April 2, was the first pontiff to visit a synagogue and the first to visit Nazi death camps. He led the Vatican to set up diplomatic relations with Israel and repeatedly condemned anti-Semitism as a sin against God.

"It is my intention to continue on this path. The history of relations between our two communities has been complex and often painful," the Pope said.

"But I am convinced that the spiritual patrimony treasured by Christians and Jews is itself the source of the wisdom and inspiration capable of guiding us toward a future of hope in accordance with the divine plan," he said.

The Pope said the painful past could not be forgotten.

He called for "continued reflection on the profound historical, moral and theological questions presented by the experience of the Shoah", using the Hebrew word for the Nazi attempt to exterminate the Jews in the Holocaust.

In 1998, there was widespread Jewish discontent with a Vatican document on the Shoah which effectively absolved wartime pope Pius XII of accusations that he facilitated the Holocaust by remaining silent.

Rabbis in the group said it was significant that the Pope was in favour of more joint reflection of the Holocaust.

Last month in his first major address about the Nazi era in his native Germany, the Pope condemned "the genocide of the Jews", and said humanity must never be allowed to forget or repeat such atrocious crimes.

Benedict, 78, served briefly in the Hitler Youth during the war when membership of the Nazi paramilitary organisation was compulsory. But he was never a member of the Nazi party and his family opposed Hitler's regime.

The Pope will make a landmark trip to Germany in August.

Delegation leader Rabbi Israel Singer told Reuters the Pope had assured them privately that Jewish relations would be "a basic pillar of his papacy".

Rabbi David Rosen, head of interfaith relations for the American Jewish Committee, said the meeting had put to rest any apprehensions that the new Pope might not be as committed as his predecessor to relations with Jews.

"This is the first formal interfaith meeting the Pope has had with any religious group and, therefore, it is a clear affirmation of the relationship between the Catholic Church and the Jewish people," Rosen said