From Buenos Aires to the Vatican: A Rabbi Remembers the Pope
Jewish friends and interfaith partners of Pope Francis are reflecting on the legacy of Jorge Mario Bergoglio—not only as a pontiff, but as a man of conscience, personal connection, and moral courage. Henrique Cymerman, an Israeli journalist who became close to Francis, called him “a great friend of the Jewish people” and recalled the pope praying with him on the phone during missile strikes near Tel Aviv. Rabbi Abraham Skorka, who shared a decadeslong friendship with Francis beginning in Buenos Aires, remembered a man who never sought theological fusion but pursued deep mutual respect. “We had a pact—to make the world better,” he said.
Francis’ papacy was marked by outreach across faiths, including a symbolic embrace at the Western Wall with Skorka and a Muslim leader. But tensions emerged, especially during the 2023–2025 Gaza war. His moral framing of the conflict—speaking of “genocide” and “cruelty”—was viewed by many Israelis as one-sided. He condemned antisemitism consistently but was criticized for not explicitly naming Hamas or acknowledging Israeli trauma.
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Rabbi David Rosen, a veteran of Catholic-Jewish dialogue, said the pope’s Latin American worldview shaped his perception of the conflict. Missteps, like quoting a verse historically weaponized against Jews or displaying a Palestinian keffiyeh in a nativity scene, deepened the unease. Still, Rosen emphasized the pope’s role as a global voice against hatred.
Despite the strain, the friendships endured. Francis remained committed to personal engagement, often bypassing institutions to reach individuals. His passing leaves not just a theological vacuum, but a relational one.
To learn more about Pope Francis’ complex legacy and the voices of those who knew him best, read the full article by Gabriel Colodro.
