The Pope takes a significant step forward in furthering the cause of inter-religious dialogue by explicitly exonerating the Jewish people from all blame for the Crucifixion and death of Jesus.This ground was covered already by Vatican II in the 1960s, but apparently this is the first time a Pope has explicitly stated this position.
In his forthcoming book on Jesus, the Pope dedicates three pages to the famous passage in St Matthew’s Gospel in which “the Jews” demand the execution of Christ and shout to Pontius Pilate: “Let his blood be on us and on our children.”
He uses both scholarship and faith to explain that the mob does not represent the Jewish people, but sinful humanity in general.
Furthermore, he offers theological insights to say that the blood of Jesus is not used in the purposes of vengeance but is poured out to reconcile mankind to God.
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Thursday, March 03, 2011
Pope: Jewish people must never again be blamed for crucifixion
POPE: Jewish people must never again be blamed for crucifixion (Catholic Herald).