ROME (JTA) — The chief rabbi of Rome, Riccardo Di Segni, met with Pope Francis at the Vatican.
The religious leaders discussed issues surrounding immigration to Europe, humanitarian crises and social issues during Monday morning’s meeting.
A spokesman for the Jewish community called the meeting “cordial.” He said Francis and Di Segni expressed hope that their two religions would cooperate more intensely to reach common solutions.
They last met in the fall and generally meet two to three times a year.
Di Segni had been expected to join a delegation of European rabbis that met with the pope early last week, but instead he had to pay his last respects to his predecessor, emeritus chief rabbi of Rome Elio Toaff, who died that day at 99. Last week’s meeting discussed anti-Semitism in Europe and recent attacks on Christian communities in the Middle East and Asia.
