IJCIC Letter to the Holy See
The following letter was sent to Pope Francis by IJCIC: THe International Jewish Committee for Interreligious Consultations protesting his repeated unbalanced criticism of Irael.
Your Holiness,
We write to you as representatives of the International Committee on Interreligious Consultations (IJCIC), an organization known to you for its commitment to fostering interfaith dialogue, mutual understanding, and peace between the Vatican and the Jewish community. With the deepest respect for the role Your Holiness plays in promoting compassion and justice globally, we feel compelled to address your recent remarks, which have been repeated on several occasions, regarding the conflict in Gaza. We find these remarks troubling and deeply concerning.
Your statement, “Yesterday children were bombed. This is cruelty, this is not war,” while undeniably motivated by compassion for innocent victims of violence, risks presenting a one-sided perspective that overlooks the broader context and complexities of the current crisis. Israel is engaged in a defensive war against jihadist terrorism following the brutal and unprecedented massacre perpetrated by Hamas on October 7. On that day, over 1,400 innocent Israelis and others—men, women, children, and the elderly of diverse faith —were murdered in cold blood. Of the 251 hostages abducted that day, 101 remain held hostage under unspeakable conditions.
The suffering of innocent civilians is heart-wrenching. We share Your Holiness’s sorrow over the loss of any innocent life, whether Israeli or Palestinian. We acknowledge the support that you have shown to the families of the hostages. However, framing Israel’s actions solely in terms of “cruelty” without acknowledging the necessity of dismantling a terrorist infrastructure that has repeatedly targeted civilians diminishes the suffering experienced by Israeli families and communities. Additionally, it further fuels the rampant antisemitism raging throughout
Moreover, such statements risk undermining the moral clarity needed to confront the global threat of terrorism. Hamas not only endangers Israeli lives but also callously uses its own civilian population as human shields, storing weapons in hospitals, schools, and residential areas. This reprehensible strategy exacerbates the suffering in Gaza, making it agonizingly difficult to unerringly prevent the deaths of innocents while fighting combatants.
As an organization committed to dialogue and understanding, we urge Your Holiness to consider the wider context of Israel’s actions, which are motivated not by cruelty but by the imperative to safeguard its population against existential threats. We also urge the Holy See to condemn regularly and forcefully the atrocities committed by Hamas with equal fervor, as muteness on this matter risks emboldening those who seek to sow hatred and destruction.
Your Holiness, the Jewish people and the Catholic Church share a profound commitment to the sanctity of human life and the pursuit of peace. In this spirit, we hope you will join us in calling for an end to terrorism, the safe return of hostages, and the protection of all innocent lives in this conflict. We remain dedicated to the sacred task of building bridges between our communities and working together for a future where such tragedies no longer occur.
With deep respect and hope for continued dialogue,
Rabbi Mark Dratch
Chair, IJCIC
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Contact:
Mark Dratch
IJCIC
+12038589691
msdratch@gmail.com
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