After meeting pope, US Jewish leaders do not expect substantial changes from Vatican on Israel “Considering the pressures on the church from both within and without, dramatic changes are rare,” David Michaels, of B’nai B’rith, told JNS. Vita Fellig May 20, 2025
At papal inauguration, Herzog welcomes pontiff’s nod to hostages Israel's president called Pope Leo XIV’s support a “powerful signal” from the Vatican. May 18, 2025
The pope’s ‘divisions’ and the war against the Jews Non-Catholics need to respect the powerful symbolism of the papacy. But neutrality about a genocidal struggle against Israel’s existence is neither moral nor acceptable. Jonathan S. Tobin May 13, 2025
Pope Leo XIV pledges continued ‘dialogue’ with Jewish people AJC's Rabbi Noam Marans told JNS it is gratifying that “the pope has affirmed the importance of strong Catholic-Jewish relations” so early in his tenure. Izzy Salant May 12, 2025
Pope urges end to Gaza fighting in first Sunday address Pope Leo XIV said he was "deeply pained" by the situation in Gaza amid the war against Hamas. JNS Staff May 11, 2025
Netanyahu congratulates new pope, urges ‘reconciliation among all faiths’ The American-born Leo XIV is also a Peruvian citizen. May 9, 2025
Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, of Chicago, is first US-born pope, Leo XIV Rabbi Joshua Stanton of the Jewish Federation told JNS that the new pope's election fills him with both hope and anxiety. Vita Fellig and Menachem Wecker May 8, 2025
Herzog signs book of condolences to mourn Pope Francis’s death “May his prayers for justice and peace be realized promptly in the immediate release of Israel’s hostages,” the Israeli president wrote. JNS Staff May 3, 2025
Pope Francis funeral draws hundreds of thousands in Vatican More than 50 world leaders attended the ceremony, including the U.S. president, who met Ukraine’s Zelenskyy for a brief one-on-one talk. JNS Staff April 26, 2025
