Israel’s Chief Rabbi Yitzhak Nissim, still apparently adhering to his previous decision not to welcome Pope Paul VI in person when the Pontiff visits Israel next Sunday, has sent a message of warm welcome to the head of the Catholic Church. The text of the message, sent to the Vatican yesterday, follows:
“The illustrious pilgrim. Pope Paul VI, coming to the Holy Land to offer prayer and make supplication: May he receive blessings out of Zion, God’s Holy mountain, and out of Jerusalem, the chosen city. May his mission of prayer on behalf of his faithful be attended by silence which he wishes for and befits prayer and meditation.
“His desire to beseech God’s mercy for peace among all men is timely indeed. The threat of war, waged by methods of modern science, calls us to fervent prayer that guide rulers of the world in their efforts to establish just, peaceful order, foster mutual understanding, reduce hatred and increase friendship among nations until the vision of Israel’s prophets is fulfilled: ‘And they will beat their swords into plough shares and their spears into pruning forks. Nation shall not lift sword against nation, neither will they learn war any more.’
“Prayer for peace is the duty of all, but even more of religious leaders who must make this striving their chief concern and seek brotherly converse now to move our hearts toward it. May the prayers of the illustrious pilgrim, Supreme among his brethren, for peace of the world be answered, and may his coming and his going be blessed with peace.”
Chief Rabbi Nissim provoked a controversy in Israel by his decision not to join the official welcoming delegation headed by President Shazar which will greet the Pope Sunday. It was understood that he felt that as one of Judaism’s ranking leaders, he should not attend the welcome without a reciprocal visit from the Pope. His message was seen as a statement of approval of the Pope’s visit but not a retreat from his decision not to join in the welcome.
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