The relationship between the Jewish people and the Catholic Church is complex.   This is especially so when the Vatican, representing over 1 billion Catholics worldwide, encounters Israel and grapples with both 2,000 years of Christian teaching and contemporary realities. The upcoming visit of Pope Benedict XVI to Israel (May 8 – 15, 2009) raises many theological and political issues. The Israel Advocacy Initiative convened a three part conference call series to help the field navigate through these topics.  

The first call focused on Vatican-Israel relations, featuring Rabbi Yehiel Poupko, Judaic Scholar, Jewish United Fund/Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago and Dr. Philip A. Cunningham, Director, Jewish-Catholic Institute of Saint Joseph's University. To listen to the audio of this call, please click here.

The second call featuring Fr. John Pawlikowski, O.S.M., Professor and Director of the Catholic-Jewish Studies Program at the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago; Immediate Past President of the International Council of Christians & Jews and Rabbi David Rosen, Director, International Director of Interreligious Affairs, American Jewish Committee explored Catholic-Jewish relations. To listen to the audio of this call, please click here.