Israel welcomes Pope`s exoneration of Jews
Baku, March 4 (AZERTAC). Israel has welcomed Pope Benedict XVI`s exoneration of the Jewish people from responsibility for the death of Jesus Christ in a new book due to be published later this month.
The Pope wrote that those responsible for Christ`s crucifixion were the "aristocracy of the temple" in Jerusalem and the "masses" who acclaimed Barabbas instead of Jesus - not "the Jewish people as a whole".
Extracts from the book, the second volume of a biography of Christ written by the pontiff, were published by the Vatican`s official Osservatore Romano daily on Thursday ahead of its formal presentation on March 10.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hailed the Pope`s "courage".
"I commend you for forcefully rejecting in your recent book a false charge that has been a foundation for the hatred of the Jewish people for many centuries," he said in a statement.
"My fervent hope is that your clarity and courage will strengthen the relations between Jews and Christians throughout the world and promote peace and reconciliation for generations to come."
Israel`s embassy to the Vatican reacted with "joy" and said the comments were "a confirmation of the Pope`s widely known positive attitude towards the Jewish people and the state of Israel".
The World Jewish Congress also praised Benedict, with director Ronald Lauder saying: "Two thousand years after the event it really was high time that the head of the Catholic church made a clear statement on this.
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