I was especially struck and pleased by the Holy Father's comments regarding the Church's relationship with our Jewish brothers and sisters. I have included the applicable sections below:
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247. We hold the Jewish people in special regard because their covenant with God has never
been revoked, for “the gifts and the call of God are irrevocable” (Rom 11:29). The Church, which
shares with Jews an important part of the sacred
Scriptures, looks upon the people of the covenant and their faith as one of the sacred roots of
her own Christian identity (cf. Rom 11:16-18). As
Christians, we cannot consider Judaism as a foreign religion; nor do we include the Jews among
those called to turn from idols and to serve the
true God (cf. 1 Thes 1:9). With them, we believe
in the one God who acts in history, and with
them we accept his revealed word.
248. Dialogue and friendship with the children
of Israel are part of the life of Jesus’ disciples.
The friendship which has grown between us
makes us bitterly and sincerely regret the terrible persecutions which they have endured, and
continue to endure, especially those that have involved Christians.
249. God continues to work among the people
of the Old Covenant and to bring forth treasures of wisdom which flow from their encounter
with his word. For this reason, the Church also
is enriched when she receives the values of Judaism. While it is true that certain Christian beliefs
are unacceptable to Judaism, and that the Church
cannot refrain from proclaiming Jesus as Lord
and Messiah, there exists as well a rich complementarity which allows us to read the texts of the
Hebrew Scriptures together and to help one another to mine the riches of God’s word. We can
also share many ethical convictions and a common concern for justice and the development of
peoples.
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