Jewish groups mourn Pope Francis, ‘friend of the Jewish people,’ but some are critical
Some voices take issue with the late leader of the Catholic Church over his statements condemning Israeli actions in its war in Gaza
Zev Stub is the Times of Israel's Diaspora Affairs correspondent.
Jewish organizations around the world responded to the death of Pope Francis on Monday, with many honoring him for advancing the Catholic Church’s relationship with Israel and the Jewish people, while some criticized him, particularly for his statements condemning Israel’s actions during the war in Gaza.
The pope, as leader of the 1.4-billion-member Roman Catholic Church, was usually careful about taking sides in conflicts, but had recently been more outspoken about Israel’s military campaign against Hamas.
His condemnation of Israeli airstrikes during his annual Christmas address last December was received with fury by Israel, which accused him of maintaining “double standards.”
The day before his death at age 88, in his Easter address, Francis called the growing climate of antisemitism around the world “worrisome,” while also reiterating his call for a ceasefire in the war, which started when Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, 2023, killed 1,200 people and took 251 hostages.
The pope had also met with family members of hostages and repeatedly called for their release.
World Jewish Congress president Ronald Lauder lauded Pope Francis as “a true moral leader, a man of deep faith and humanity, and a steadfast friend to the Jewish people.”
“From his early years in Argentina to his papacy, Pope Francis was deeply committed to fostering interfaith dialogue and ensuring that the memory of the Holocaust remained a guiding lesson for future generations,” he said. “Under his leadership, the relationship between the Holy See and the World Jewish Congress flourished.”
Lauder recalled several highlights in the WJC’s relationship with Francis, including its opening of an office near St. Peter’s Basilica in 2023 to promote Catholic-Jewish relations.
However, he said, regarding Francis’s comments about Israel, “There were moments of difficulty, particularly in recent months.”
The American Jewish Committee noted that Francis “repeatedly condemned antisemitism and characterized it as both a sin against God and un-Christian.”
“Francis made pilgrimages that were substantive visuals of the new era in the Church’s understanding of Jews, Judaism, and the State of Israel,” the AJC said. “Among others, these included a state visit to Israel (2014), a visit to the Great Synagogue in Rome (2016), and a visit to the Auschwitz death camp (2016).
Regarding Francis’s response to the war in Gaza, the AJC statement treaded lightly.
“While Israel’s defensive fight for survival after the horrific massacre by Hamas on October 7, 2023, yielded both papal empathy and criticism, significant Jewish disappointments with this and other matters were navigated in the spirit of six decades of the post-Nostra Aetate relationship,” it said, referring to a 1965 church declaration regarding the church’s relationship with Judaism and other religions.
The European Jewish Congress sent condolences to Catholics in Europe and around the world upon Francis’s passing.
“Pope Francis was a steadfast advocate for interfaith dialogue and mutual respect between religions,” the organization said. “His unwavering commitment to combating antisemitism and fostering a spirit of brotherhood between Christians and Jews will be remembered with gratitude and admiration.”
Rabbi Pinchas Goldschmidt, president of the Conference of European Rabbis (CER), who met with the pope several times, recalled “Francis’s unwavering dedication to promoting peace and goodwill worldwide.” He also praised the pope’s efforts to strengthen Catholic-Jewish relations.
UK Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis responded to Pope Francis’s death without commenting on his legacy.
“I join numerous people across the world in marking the passing of Pope Francis. I know this is a moment of great sadness for our Catholic friends and my thoughts are with them during this time of mourning, as they reflect on his leadership and prepare for transition,” Mirvis wrote on X. “May all those who are grieving find comfort and strength in the coming weeks, as the Catholic Church begins a new chapter.”
I join numerous people across the world in marking the passing of Pope Francis. I know this is a moment of great sadness for our Catholic friends and my thoughts are with them during this time of mourning, as they reflect on his leadership and prepare for transition.
May all… pic.twitter.com/o4Mj0k1Pbb
— Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis (@chiefrabbi) April 21, 2025
Mirvis met with the pope in 2015 ahead of the 50th anniversary of Pope Paul VI’s Nostra Aetate declaration, which had reframed the Catholic Church’s relationship with the Jewish people.
Rabbi Rick Jacobs of the Union for Reform Judaism, who met Francis in 2017, applauded his work countering issues such as climate change and laws against homosexuality.
“The relationship between the Catholic and Jewish communities flourished under Pope Francis’ guidance. He honored the shared heritage of our faiths and took meaningful steps to heal historical wounds, reinforcing a path toward mutual respect and collaboration,” Jacobs said. “We especially appreciated Pope Francis’s consistent calls for dialogue and mutual respect between Israelis and Palestinians.”
The Jewish Federations of North America called Pope Francis “a friend to the Jewish community and across religious traditions.”
“He repeatedly condemned antisemitism as a ‘sin,’ and worked to build upon ‘Nostra Aetate,’ the landmark document which transformed Catholic-Jewish relations 60 years ago,” the Federations said in a statement.
Canada’s Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs, which represents Jewish Federations across Canada, called Francis “a bridge-builder whose compassion and dedication to justice resonated across faiths.”
“From his early years as Archbishop of Buenos Aires, he maintained a close relationship with the Jewish community and fostered deep friendships with Jewish leaders,” the organization wrote on X. “As Pope, he continued this interfaith work by strengthening Jewish-Catholic relations, condemning antisemitism, and promoting dialogue.”
The Times of Israel Community.