In an address to leaders of the American Jewish Committee, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Secretary of State of His Holiness, said, “Allow me to reiterate, once again and without any ambiguity, the Holy See’s firm rejection of anti-Semitism in all its forms.”
“Jews must be able to live, worship, and educate their children without fear,” Cardinal Parolin continued. “The memory of the Shoah places upon us all an enduring responsibility to combat prejudice, the distortion of facts, and indifference.”
After stating the Holy See’s definition of anti-Semitism, Cardinal Parolin distinguished anti-Semitism from criticism of Israeli policies:
Jewish identity, religious faith, and the policies of a government are interconnected issues; however, the Holy See maintains that they are not interchangeable and should not be conflated.
Diplomatic discussion and reasoned criticism of government policies are the foundation of international relations; they must remain possible without being conflated with hostility toward any specific group, or, indeed, toward any religious faith.
Vatican News released the text of Cardinal Parolin’s address on October 23, a day after Pope Leo addressed the Jewish leaders.