Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised outgoing Pope Benedict XVI for “courageously defending Judeo-Christian values and the roots of our common civilisation” in a letter to the Pontiff following his surprise resignation last week on the grounds of ill health, the Prime Minister’s office confirmed Monday.
In correspondence praising the sometimes controversial Roman Catholic leader, Netanyahu further highlighted his interfaith work to build on relations between Christian and Jewish communities culminating in his official 2009 visit to the Jewish State to help raise awareness of its small but active Christian community, which Netanyahu said gave ”expression to the new relations between our faiths”.
Heralding his commitment to “these values which were so essential to building the modern world”, the Premier insisted that forming part of his legacy, they would continue to prove “no less critical to securing a future of security, prosperity and peace”.
Netanyahu was not the only Israeli leader to commend the pope’s interfaith work, after Chief Rabbi Yona Metzger also greeted the confirmation of his resignation by stressing that under his leadership “there were the best relations ever between the church and the chief rabbinate,” adding that he “deserves a lots of credit for advancing inter-religious links the world over between Judaism, Christianity and Islam”.
On his Israeli tour, the pope said his pilgrimage to the Middle East should serve as a reminder of the “inseparable bond” between the Catholic Church and the Jewish people.
Israeli President Shimon Peres also issued a statement describing himself “saddened” by the pope’s decision, praising him for making the Vatican “a clear voice against racism and anti-Semitism and a clear voice for peace”.
“Relations between Israel and the Vatican are the best they have ever been and the positive dialogue between the Catholic Church and the Jewish people is a testament to his belief in dialogue and cooperation,” he added.
Tributes similarly poured in to the Catholic leader from across the international community, with German Chancellor Angela Merkel highlighting his success in promoting and leading dialogue “with other churches and other religions”. Describing his as "much more than a simple worker”, she praised him for “offering a hand to both Jews and Muslims”.