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Israel-Vatican relations

This handout photo taken on September 4, 2025, and released by the Vatican Media shows Pope Leo XIV (right) and President Isaac Herzog exchanging gifts during a private audience in the Vatican. (Handout/Vatican Media/AFP)
April 3, 2026, 6:59 pm
In call, Pope urges Herzog to pursue ‘all paths of dialogue’ to end Iran war
Pontiff stresses protection of civilians and respect for international law in conversation to mark Passover and Easter, as regional fighting intensifies
By ToI Staff and Agencies
Pope Leo XIV attends a commemoration of the 60th anniversary of the Vatican 1965 declaration Nostra Aetate (In Our Time) in the Paul VI Hall at the Vatican, October 28, 2025. (AP/Gregorio Borgia)
October 29, 2025, 5:16 am
Pope Leo says key document revolutionizing Catholic-Jewish ties ‘highly relevant today’
Pontiff marks 60 years since publication of ‘Nostra Aetate,’ which he says ‘takes firm stand against all forms of antisemitism’ and stresses the ‘profound principle’ of dialogue
By Agencies and ToI Staff
Dr. Karma Ben-Johanan, a researcher on Jewish-Christian relations at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and the Hartman Institute. (Courtesy of Assaf Feldman)
October 28, 2025, 3:06 pm
As Nostra Aetate turns 60, Oct. 7 has pushed Jewish-Catholic ties to new ‘crossroads’
Amid events in Vatican celebrating document that reshaped relations with Jews, Israeli expert Karma Ben-Johanan says ties are affected by Church’s shifting focus to Global South
By Rossella Tercatin
Pope Leo XIV (R) talks with Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin at the end of the meditation by Sr. Maria Gloria Riva of the Perpetual Adorers of the Blessed Sacrament, part of the Jubilee of the Holy See at the Aula Paolo VI (Paul VI Audience Hall), in The Vatican, on June 9, 2025. (Tiziana FABI / AFP)
October 6, 2025, 11:02 pm
Vatican’s top diplomat says Israel carrying out ‘ongoing massacre’ in Gaza
Cardinal Parolin also urges Hamas to free hostages, calls Oct. 7 ‘indefensible’; top Catholic leader in the Holy Land: Christians should be bridge between Israelis, Palestinians
By Agencies and ToI Staff
This handout photo taken on September 4, 2025, and released by the Vatican Media shows Pope Leo XIV (right) and President Isaac Herzog exchanging gifts during a private audience in the Vatican. (Handout/Vatican Media/AFP)
September 4, 2025, 7:55 pm
Hosting Herzog, pope calls for permanent Gaza ceasefire to be reached ‘with urgency’
President urges pontiff to assist with efforts to free hostages, assures him of Israel’s commitment to protecting Christian communities
By Lazar Berman and Reuters
President Isaac Herzog (L) meets Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican on May 18, 2025 (Maayan Toaf / GPO)
September 3, 2025, 2:24 am
Herzog to meet Pope Leo at the Vatican; each claims the other initiated the meeting
Heads of state to discuss Gaza war, hostages; president says visit is at pontiff’s invitation, but Vatican, in unusual statement, says it is ‘not its practice to extend invitations’
By Reuters and ToI Staff
Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa and Orthodox Patriarch Theophilus III in Gaza City's Holy Family Church, July 18, 2025, a day after the church was damaged by a shell fired from a nearby Israeli tank. (Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem)
July 18, 2025, 5:32 pm
Jerusalem’s highest-ranking Christian officials enter Gaza to visit church hit by IDF
Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa brings aid to Strip with Theophilos III, Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem; Netanyahu holds lengthy phone call with Pope Leo XIV
By Reuters and Lazar Berman
Pope Leo XIV holds his weekly general audience in St. Peter's Square at The Vatican, on May 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)
May 29, 2025, 9:30 am
Pope Leo, invoking Gazan kids’ ‘lifeless bodies,’ calls for truce, hostage release
‘I renew my appeal to the leaders: Cease fire, release all hostages, fully respect humanitarian law,’ says new pontiff in weekly audience, echoing calls of his late predecessor
By Grace Gilson
Pope Leo XIV blesses the crowd at the end of his first weekly general audience at St. Peter's Square in The Vatican on May 21, 2025. (Filippo MONTEFORTE / AFP)
May 21, 2025, 2:01 pm
Pope Leo makes ‘heartfelt appeal’ for Israel to allow humanitarian aid into Gaza
Pontiff cites ‘painful’ situation in Palestinian enclave during his first weekly general audience in St. Peter’s Square, reportedly doesn’t mention hostages
By Agencies and ToI Staff
Pope Leo XIV appears at the central balcony of St. Peter's Basilica for his first Sunday blessing after his election, in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, Sunday May 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Domenico Stinellis)
May 13, 2025, 10:38 pm
President Herzog to attend Pope Leo XIV’s inauguration in Rome
New pontiff reaches out to the American Jewish Committee and Jewish Community of Rome to reaffirm his commitment to interfaith dialogue
By Rossella Tercatin and Reuters
Newly elected Pope Leo XIV appears at the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, May 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)
May 9, 2025, 3:06 am
Expressing openness to improving Vatican ties, Israeli leaders welcome new pope
Herzog sends ‘warmest wishes from Jerusalem,’ looks forward to ‘enhancing’ relations with Holy See; Foreign Ministry says it hopes to soon welcome Pope Leo XIV on a visit
By ToI Staff
The book of the gospels lays on the coffin of late Pope Francis during the funeral ceremony at St Peter's Square in the Vatican on April 26, 2025. (Photo by Tiziana FABI / AFP)
April 26, 2025, 5:36 pm
Pope Francis laid to rest as hundreds of thousands flock to Vatican for his funeral
Ceremony bidding farewell to the Argentine pontiff attended by world leaders, royalty and masses of Catholic faithful; top Israeli officials stay away amid tensions over Gaza war
By Reuters and ToI Staff
Nuns mourn during a memorial mass for Pope Francis at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem on April 23, 2025. (AHMAD GHARABLI / AFP)
April 25, 2025, 11:32 pm
Israeli Christian group: Israel’s response to pope’s death sends ‘message of exclusion’
Forum of Holy Land Christians demands Jerusalem send higher-level representative to pontiff’s funeral, wants probe of cops who scuffled with worshipers at recent Holy Fire ceremony
By ToI Staff
Christian worshippers attend a memorial mass for the late Pope Francis at the Melkite Greek Catholic Cathedral of St Elias in Israel's northern city of Haifa on April 24, 2025. (Jalaa Marey / AFP)
April 25, 2025, 10:43 am
Netanyahu eulogizes Pope Francis after days of silence, amid tensions over Gaza stance
In terse message, PM says Israel ‘expresses its deepest condolences’ to Catholics worldwide, after Jerusalem’s muted response to pontiff’s death sparked ire from Israeli diplomats
By Lazar Berman, ToI Staff and Agencies
The body of late Pope Francis is carried in an open coffin through St. Peter's Square to St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican on Wednesday, April 23, 2025, where the deceased pontiff will lie in state for three days. (Vatican Media via AP)
April 23, 2025, 10:29 pm
Israel to merely send envoy to pope’s funeral as Jerusalem-Vatican ties fray amid Gaza war
While other countries send presidents and royalty to Saturday funeral, Israel will be represented by ambassador to Vatican; Netanyahu has not yet expressed condolences to Catholics
By Reuters and ToI Staff
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