Pope and Rome Rabbi exchange
greetings
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| Pope Francis with Chief Rabbi Riccardo Di Sergi of Rome |
Pope Francis and the Chief Rabbi of Rome have exchanged
greetings on the occasion of the Jewish feast of Pesach, or Passover, that
starts on the evening of Wednesday and continues till the evening of April 16,
this year.
By Robin Gomes
Pope Francis is inviting Jews and Christians to "renew
the bonds of friendship and commitment towards the most needy of our society,
particularly in the current ordeal we are all going through." The
Popes’ invitation came in a message to Chief Rabbi Riccardo Di Segni of Rome,
in which he offered his “heartiest wishes” to him and the entire Jewish
community of the city, on the occasion of the Jewish feast of Pesach or
Passover.
Pesach commemorates the start of the exodus of Jews from
slavery in Egypt, as narrated in the Bible. Jesus Himself celebrated the
feast of the Passover with His disciples in Jerusalem, just before His passion,
death and resurrection, the solemn Paschal mysteries of the Christian faith
that are celebrated during Holy Week that culminates with Easter.
"May the Almighty, who has freed His beloved people
from slavery and led them to the Promised Land, accompany you even today with
the abundance of His blessings," the Pope wrote in the message, said the
Vatican newspaper, L’Osservatore Romano. "I assure my remembrance
and ask you to continue to pray for me," the Pope concluded.
Di Segni reciprocated noting that, "this year is a
special Easter in which normal life has been disrupted by the current epidemic
that creates mourning, fears and economic and social disasters".
The Chief Rabbi assured, "we are all committed to help,
to comfort, to solicit an examination of conscience and to ask our Creator for
help". He pointed out that it is precisely at these moments that
"we measure in concrete terms the common values of our faiths and the need
to work together for the collective good". Di Segni concluded wishing that
in spite of everything, it be a peaceful Easter, the bearer of renewal and the
announcement of a better world".
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