WORLD JEWISH CONGRESS – Delegation shares concern about Pope Francis’ forthcoming book

A delegation of the World Jewish Congress (WJC) met last week with the Holy See Undersecretary for Relations with States, Mgr. Mirosław Stanisław Wachowski, to share the concerns of Jewish communities about the impact of the media reports on Pope Francis’ forthcoming book Hope Never Disappoints. In the book Pope Francis states: “According to some experts what is happening in Gaza has the characteristics of a genocide. It should be carefully investigated to determine whether it fits into the technical definition formulated by jurists and international bodies.”
The WJC delegation, led by David Koschitzky, Chair of WJC North America and representing WJC President Ronald S. Lauder, included Noemi Di Segni, President of the Union of Italian Jewish Communities (UCEI) and member of the WJC Executive Committee. 
The WJC representatives reiterated the expectation of even-handedness in references to conflicts. The delegation was reassured to hear from Mgr. Wachowski that the Pope’s words were taken out of context and misinterpreted in media reports. They also welcomed the positive spirit of ongoing dialogue between the Holy See and the World Jewish Congress, which dates back to the Second Vatican Council in 1965. The delegation expressed appreciation for Pope Francis and the Holy See continued commitment to condemning all manifestations of antisemitism.