Pope Francis had a very busy schedule of appointments this morning, including an apostolic nuncio, two new ambassadors who presented their Letters of Credence, a delegation from the Laudato Si Movement, the president of the government of Catalonia, a delegation from the Conference of European Rabbis, and a group from the Little House of Mercy in Caltanissetta, Italy.
This afternoon he is meeting with children from five continents in the Paul VI Hall. He had announced this event at the Angelus on October 1, saying, “It is an event to show the dream we all have: to go back to having the pure sentiments of children because the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to them.”
Although Francis told the Rabbis he was not feeling well, all the other morning events went on as planned, with the Pope delivering his talks.
POPE GREETS EUROPEAN RABBIS, SAYS HE IS NOT FEELING WELL
According to Corriere della Sera news, “the Holy Father handed his talk to the Rabbis, saying he did not feel well: ‘Good morning, I greet you all and welcome you. Thank you for this visit which I like very much but it happens that I am not in good health and for this reason I prefer not to read the speech but to give it to you and for you to bring it.’ Thus, Pope Francis, receiving the delegation of European Rabbis in an audience in the Vatican. The Pontiff did not read the speech he should have given: he delivered it speaking in a very tired voice about his health problems without continuing further.”
Aleteia reported that “in an audience with a delegation from the Conference of European Rabbis on November 6, 2023, Pope Francis said he was not “feeling well” and would thus not read the speech he had prepared for the occasion. The director of the Holy See Press Office, Matteo Bruni, said the Pope “has a bit of a cold” and wanted to “greet the European rabbis individually.” The other audiences on the Pope’s agenda will continue as normal.
The Pope spoke “in a hoarse voice, as could be heard from the audio being broadcasted live in the Holy See Press Office,” although, according to one reporter, that audio was turned off at one point.
Vatican News did (see following story) only reported that the Pope handed his talk over to the European rabbis, with no mention of a cold or health problems.
Pope to European Rabbis: Dialogue is key to peace
Meeting a delegation of the Conference of European Rabbis, Pope Francis highlighted the crucial importance of Jewish-Christian dialogue in bringing about peace and justice in the Holy Land, and condemns resurgent anti-Semitism in various parts of the world.
“Not weapons, not terrorism, not war, but compassion, justice and dialogue are the fitting means for building peace.”
With these words Pope Francis reiterated on Monday his impassioned plea for peace in the Holy Land. Addressing a delegation of Conference of European Rabbis in the Vatican, the Pope focused on the ongoing war in the region.
Concern and condemnation of resurgent antisemitism
In his prepared remarks, which he handed to the delegation, he also expressed his concern for the spread of anti-Semitic demonstrations in the world as a result of the conflict, which, he said, he “strongly” condemns.
The Pope underscored that in this time of violence and destruction, “believers are called to build fraternity and open paths of reconciliation for all and before all, in the name of the Almighty.”
TO CONTINUE: https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2023-11/pope-to-european-rabbis-dialogue-is-key-to-peace.html
Joan's Rome 