On October 29, 2025, under the gilded ceilings of the Vatican, Pope Leo XIV addressed a crowd gathered for a momentous occasion—the 60th anniversary of the landmark Vatican document, Nostra Aetate. The event, attended by Jewish leaders, representatives of other faiths, and Vatican officials, came at a time when tensions between Catholics and Jews have been heightened by the ongoing war in Gaza and a global surge in antisemitic incidents.
Standing before the audience, Pope Leo XIV did not shy away from acknowledging the "misunderstandings, difficulties and conflicts" that have arisen between the Catholic Church and the Jewish community, particularly in the context of Israel’s recent military actions in Gaza. According to the Associated Press, the Pope stated, "We cannot deny that there have been misunderstandings, difficulties and conflicts in this period, but these have never prevented the dialogue from continuing." His remarks, delivered with measured gravity, reflected both a historical reckoning and a call to persist in dialogue despite the turbulence of current events.
The Pope’s comments were not made in a vacuum. The anniversary of Nostra Aetate—Latin for “In Our Time”—arrived amid a backdrop of record-high antisemitic incidents worldwide. According to the Anti-Defamation League, the United States alone saw 9,354 reported antisemitic incidents in 2024, a staggering 58% of which were related to Israel. Many of these incidents involved chants, speeches, and signs at rallies protesting Israeli policies, underscoring how the conflict in Gaza has become a flashpoint for antisemitic rhetoric and violence.
In his address, Pope Leo XIV reaffirmed the Catholic Church’s unequivocal condemnation of antisemitism. He quoted Nostra Aetate directly, reminding the audience that the Church “decries hatred, persecutions, displays of antisemitism, directed against Jews at any time and by anyone.” He then added his own voice to the chorus of papal predecessors, declaring, “And so I, too, confirm that the church does not tolerate antisemitism and fights against it, on the basis of the Gospel itself.” His words, as reported by Devdiscourse and the AP, aimed to solidify Christian-Jewish alliances at a time when such partnerships are needed more than ever.
The significance of Nostra Aetate cannot be overstated. Issued in 1965 during the Second Vatican Council, the document revolutionized Catholic-Jewish relations by repudiating the centuries-old charge of Jewish collective guilt for the death of Christ—a belief that had fueled antisemitism throughout Christian history. The Vatican’s reckoning with its own role in fostering antisemitic attitudes, especially in the shadow of the Holocaust, marked a turning point in interfaith relations. Since then, every pope has reaffirmed the Church’s rejection of antisemitism, but the anniversary of Nostra Aetate this year carried special weight given the current global climate.
The war in Gaza, intensifying since the October 7, 2023 attacks by Hamas, has put additional strain on Vatican-Jewish relations. Pope Francis, Leo XIV’s immediate predecessor, repeatedly angered Jewish and Israeli leaders with comments perceived as drawing a moral equivalence between the Hamas attacks and Israel’s military response. Francis called for an investigation into whether Israel’s actions in Gaza constituted genocide and described the Israeli response as disproportionate. While he met with relatives of hostages taken by Hamas and called for their return, these gestures did little to ease the tension sparked by his public statements.
Pope Leo XIV, installed as pontiff in May 2025, inherited these strained relations. In his first months, he met with Jewish leaders and representatives of other faiths, reiterating the Church’s commitment to dialogue and friendship. The AP reports that during his installation, Leo addressed the assembled Jewish leaders, saying, “Even in these difficult times, marked by conflicts and misunderstandings, it is necessary to continue the momentum of this precious dialogue of ours.”
Rabbi Noam Marans, director of interreligious affairs at the American Jewish Committee, was present in Rome for the anniversary celebrations. In an interview with the AP, Marans acknowledged the significance of Pope Leo XIV’s remarks. “Never in the relationship of Catholics and Jews since ‘Nostra Aetate’ has the Jewish people been more in need of friends who commit themselves to combating antisemitism with every fiber of their being,” Marans said. He emphasized the unique position of the Catholic Church, stating, “The Catholic Church has one of the largest megaphones available. It has moral suasion that is unparalleled. We hope that they will use all of the tools in their arsenal to double down in that effort.”
The Pope’s reaffirmation of the Church’s stance was seen by many as a necessary step to address both historical wounds and present-day fears. As Devdiscourse highlighted, Leo’s remarks were designed to foster dialogue and strengthen alliances, even as misunderstandings and discord persist. The commemoration of Nostra Aetate was not just a look back at a transformative moment in Church history, but a call to action for the present.
Yet, the challenges remain daunting. The sharp rise in antisemitic incidents, particularly those linked to the war in Gaza, serves as a sobering reminder of the fragility of interfaith progress. The Vatican’s relationship with the Jewish community, already complicated by recent papal statements and political realities, faces renewed tests. Still, the willingness of both sides to engage in dialogue—even when it is uncomfortable—offers a glimmer of hope.
In his closing remarks, Pope Leo XIV urged that “we must not allow political circumstances and the injustices of some to divert us from friendship, especially since we have achieved so much so far.” The statement encapsulates the delicate balancing act faced by religious leaders in times of conflict: to speak out against hatred and violence, to acknowledge past and present failings, and to hold fast to the pursuit of understanding and peace.
As the anniversary celebrations concluded in Rome, the message was clear: the work of combating antisemitism and fostering Christian-Jewish friendship is far from finished. But with leaders willing to confront hard truths and reaffirm shared values, there remains a path forward—one built on the foundations laid six decades ago by Nostra Aetate, and carried on today in the face of adversity.
