Middle East conflicts place Jewish-Christian relations under strain: Pope Leo

Pope Leo XIV on Wednesday said in a statement that “conflicts in the Middle East are putting relations between Jews and Christians to a tough test,” adding that “differing positions regarding the ongoing acts of violence have weighed heavily on the dialogue between the two sides, but have not led to its collapse.”

In a new message marking 60 years of the Catholic Church’s efforts in interfaith dialogue, the Pope also renewed the Church’s condemnation of both antisemitism and Islamophobia.

The message stated that “the conflicts that have erupted in the Middle East in recent years have left their mark on Jewish-Christian dialogue.”

It noted that “many channels of communication have been subjected to pressure and difficult tests. Nevertheless, the pillars of dialogue between believers, built over 60 years of joint effort, remain firm. From these foundations, it is both possible and necessary to continue building.”

The Pope further described the fight against antisemitism as a “joint struggle” for Jews and Christians. His message further noted that attitudes involving Islamophobia “fail to distinguish” between instances of extremist violence and the everyday lives of Muslims around the world.