ROME (JTA) — Pope Benedict XVI told a delegation from the Anti-Defamation League that he would continue to fight anti-Semitism.
At a meeting Wednesday the pope thanked the ADL delegation, saying, according to an ADL statement issued after the meeting, "It is very important what you do."
When asked if he would continue to condemn anti-Semitism, the Pope replied: "I will, you know I will," according to the statement.
The statement said ADL National Director Abraham Foxman asked the pope to work against the isolation of Israel on the global stage. "Please do not permit the world to isolate Israel," Foxman said. Benedict reportedly replied, "I will be there."
The delegation also raised the issue of recent anti-Jewish statements by Greek-Melkite Archbishop Cyril Salim Bustros of Newton, Mass., following last month’s Synod at the Vatican of bishops from the Middle East.
