AAS 80 - La Santa Sede

Acta Ioannis Pauli Pp. II 751
history of Europe and other parts of the world. But the paths of the
immigrants in their new land were not always easy. Sadly enough,
préjudice and discrimination were also known in the New World
as well as in the Old. Nevertheless, together, Jews and Catholics
have contributed to the success of the American experiment in religious
freedom, and, in this unique context, have given to the world a vigorous
form of interreligious dialogue between our two ancient traditions.
For those engaged in this dialogue, so important to the Church and
to the Jewish people, I pray : May God bless you and make you
strong for his service !
3. At the same time, our common héritage, task and hope do not
eliminate our distinctive identifies. Because of her specific Christian
witness, "The Church must preach Jesus Christ to the World". 4 In so
doing we proclaim that "Christ is our peace". 5 As the Apostle Paul
said : "All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to
himself and gave us the ministry of réconciliation". 6 At the same
time, we recognize and appreciate the spiritual treasures of the Jewish
people and their religious witness to God. A fraternal theological
dialogue will try to understand, in the light of the mystery of
rédemption, how différences in faith should not cause enmity but
open up the way of "réconciliation", so that in the end "God may
be all in all". 7
In this regard I am pleased that the National Conference of Catholic
Bishops and the Synagogue Council of America are initiating a con­
sultation between Jewish leaders and Bishops which should carry
forward a dialogue on issues of the greatest interest to the two faith
communities.
4. Considering history in the light of the principies of faith in
God, we must also reflect on the catastrophic event of the Shoah,
that ruthless and inhuman attempt to exterminate the Jewish people
in Europe, an attempt that resulted in millions of victims—including
women and children, the elderly and the sick—exterminated only
because they were Jews.
Considering this mystery of the suffering of Israel's children, their
4 1974 " Guidelines », I.
5 Eph 2:14.
« 2 Cor 5:18.
7 1 Cor 15:28.