"Never before in the history of Christian-Jewish relations have a Pope and Rabbi celebrated their friendship by living in the Vatican together for several days, sharing all meals, including on two Jewish festivals and the Sabbath at which the Rabbi said prayers in Hebrew, and discussing what more they can do together to promote dialogue and peace in the world," the Spero Forum website reports today (October 2, 2013).
That is what actually has been happening since September 25 at the Vatican guesthouse (Santa Marta) where Pope Francis lives and where his friend from Buenos Aires, Argentina, Rabbi Abraham Skorka, has been his guest from September 25 to this very day.
"I eat with him at breakfast, lunch and dinner every day. He cares for me, and controls everything regarding my food to make sure it is all kosher, and according to my religious tradition. These are festive days, and I have to say certain prayers at meals and, I expand the last prayer and translate it. He accompanies me together with the others at table -- his secretaries and a bishop, and they all say 'Amen' at the end," the Rabbi said.
Rabbi Skorka revealed that he and Pope Francis are planning to travel together to the Holy Land next year. The Israeli and Palestinian authorities have invited Pope Francis, and the Ecumenical Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Constantinople, Bartholomew I, wants him to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the historic meeting of his predecessor, Athenagoras, with Paul VI in the Holy City.
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