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Pope Condemns Anti-semitism; Sees Christians “spiritual Semites”

September 18, 1938
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A message from Pope Plus XI condemning anti-Semitism and declaring that Christians are unable to participate in it was made public here today by the managers of the Catholic broadcasting station in Belgium returning from Rome.

The Pope, who has frequently denounced Italy’s new racial policy as anti-religious and an “unfortunate imitation of Germany,” said in his message: “anti-Semitism is incompatible with the idea of the sublime reality of the Biblical text. It is an antipathic movement in which we Christians are unable to participate.”

The Pope went to added “my it is impossible for Christians to share in anti-Semitism. We concede to anybody the right to defend himself and to take measures to safeguard his interests, but anti-Semitism is inadmissible. Spiritually we are Semites.

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