Philip Givens, Jewish Mayor of Toronto, now on a visit to Italy, in an audience with Pope Paul VI, was assured by the Pontiff that a recent remark he made about the crucifixion of Jesus had caused him “distress” by being interpreted as a criticism of the Jewish people. “I can assure you of my serious concern and my sympathies for the Jewish people, “the Pope told Mr. Givens.
To emphasize his point, Pope Paul instructed one of his aides to show Mayor Givens a letter he was sending to an unidentified rabbi. In it, the Pope expressed his “surprise” and “consternation” over the criticism of his remarks during a Passion Sunday Lenten sermon. In that sermon, the pontiff interpreted the Gospel dealing with that day, quoting the Gospel’s assertion that the Jews had killed Jesus.
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