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Jewish journalist from Rome speaks on Judeo-Catholic relations
By Rebecca Bostic, The Catholic Sun
November 15, 2007
SCOTTSDALE — The Vatican City State may be mysterious to some, but not to Jewish journalist Lisa Palmieri-Billig.
The 25-year veteran Rome correspondent for The Jerusalem Post shared her view of Judeo-Catholic relations Nov. 7 at Temple Solel before some 30 Jewish Phoenicians.
Palmieri-Billig focused on her personal encounters with Pope John Paul II.
“He said the Second World War, and especially the Holocaust, was the greatest trauma of our century and we must work together — Christians and Jews — to make sure that it never happens again,” Palmieri-Billig said.
Palmieri-Billig also met with Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, now Pope Benedict XVI, several times. She said the German cardinal genuinely cared for the Jewish people.
“He focuses on the fact that the two religions are bound by a common ethos — by a common ethics and moral teaching — and the difference, the split, is in the person of Jesus,” Palmieri-Billig said. “I think we can understand that. Judaism of course doesn’t recognize Jesus as the savior and Christianity does.”
Although controversy still surrounds Pope Pius XII’s actions during World War II, she said the main issue that Jews and Catholics are dealing with now is the celebration of the Tridentine Mass.
“The revival of the Tridentine Mass has been controversial because there is a prayer on Good Friday, which is an old prayer, for the conversion of Jews,” Palmieri-Billig said. The prayer “speaks of blindness of Jews, of the veil before their eyes that we pray for their conversion.”
The Vatican has agreed to eventually update the prayer of the traditional Good Friday Tridentine Mass to reflect the more recent practice on that day.
The contemporary Good Friday Mass prays for “the saving of the Jews and of people of other religions — good wishes. It has nothing to do with the conversion of Jews,” Palmieri-Billig said.
Sharyln Kolmas heard about Palmieri-Billig’s presentation from The Jewish News of Greater Phoenix and came because she is “intrigued by how far the popes have come in recognizing Judaism,” she said.
Rabbi Maynard Bell, executive director the Arizona chapter of the American Jewish Committee, was eager to host Palmieri-Billig due to the interest people have in Judeo-Catholic relations.
“I think it’s very important for the immediate issue of the Tridentine Mass, but also in a larger context for Jews to understand the complexities of the Vatican and its relationship with our community and other religious communities,” he said.
“We feel the world would be a more peaceful, safe and tolerant place if people learn about each other and talk to each other,” he said.
Palmieri-Billig is satisfied with the way the Catholic Church engages in discussion with the Jewish faithful.
“The Vatican has a dialogue going on with leaders of the Jewish world,” she said. “I think we need to work together.”
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