Yaron Sideman, Israel\u2019s ambassador to the Holy See since September, is among those who had the opportunity to know Pope Francis closely and to discuss many sensitive topics with him. \u201cI will remember him as a kind man, humble and affable, driven by a determination to do good for the humanity and the environment,\u201d he told Pagine Ebraiche. \u201cHe also had a healthy sense of humor, which I greatly admired. It was an honor and a privilege to get to know him personally,\u201d he added.
His most vivid memory of meeting the Pope, he said, \u201cis his smile: at every meeting he greeted me with a big smile and made me feel welcome.\u201d It is no secret that after the October 7 attack and the ensuing war in Gaza, relations between Israel and the Holy See have at times been marked by tension. New wounds have opened in the dialogue, but Ambassador Sideman is confident that they can be repaired. \u201cAfter all, we share and support the same values of human freedom, dignity, compassion and respect.\u201d According to Sideman, \u201cby committing ourselves to a dialogue based on these values, we will discover and enhance our common goals and objectives a, working together to realize Pope Francis\u2019 vision of human brotherhood.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"