Pope Leo XIV to meet delegation of Jewish leaders

By Rossella Tercatin

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18 May 2025, 3:29 pm

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Rossella Tercatin is The Times of Israel's archaeology and religions reporter.

Pope Leo XIV holds Mass during the formal inauguration of his pontificate in St. Peter's Square attended by heads of state, royalty and ordinary faithful, May 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)

Pope Leo XIV will meet a delegation of Jewish leaders tomorrow morning.

The meeting, announced by the American Jewish Committee in a statement, is confirmed to The Times of Israel by David Michaels, director of UN and Intercommunal Affairs at B’nai B’rith International.

Both Michaels and AJC’s director of interreligious affairs Rabbi Noam Marans attended the pontiff’s inauguration this morning, with several other representatives of Jewish organizations, including Riccardo Di Segni, chief rabbi of Rome.

“This is going to be one of the first meetings after the inauguration,” Michaels tells The Times of Israel. “We already know that institutionally the church is deeply committed to the relationship and the friendship [with the Jewish community], and the pope has also expressed his personal commitment to the relationship.”

“Tomorrow, and in subsequent meetings, we will have a much better idea of his philosophy, of his plans and intentions,” he adds.

President Isaac Herzog also attended the inauguration.

Pope Leo’s predecessor, Pope Francis, drew criticism from Jewish and Israeli leaders following his response to Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack and the subsequent war.