Pope Benedict XVI celebrates the Holy Thursday Chrism mass as part of the Holy week on April 01, 2010 at St Peter's Basilica at the Vatican.
(CHRISTOPHE SIMON/AFP/Getty Images)
In a new book, "Jesus of Nazareth: Part II," Pope Benedict exonerates the Jewish people for the death of Jesus Christ. But why has it taken thousands of years to absolve the Jewish community of this crime? And does this say something about the evolving relationship between Jews and Catholics? We talk with Rabbi Brad Hirschfield, president of Clal, The National Jewish Center for Learning and Leadership. He is also the author of "You Don't Have to be Wrong for Me to be Right."
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Comments [4]
An excellent and fair guest. In response to the comments, the pope was given the keys ...
The Pope is just another priest with leadership roles. He does not have the authority to exonerate the Jews in this life or the next one. Only God can do that and I expect he already has. There is a fine line here. God, in my opionion will not be happy with this.
Isn't that nice of him. By what authority does he have to exonerate anyone?
Christ died for the sins of mankind was predestined. All are forgiven. What saves a person from sin and the consequences of sin is the life of Christ that lives within all believers. God reconciled the whole world to himself.
I could go on and on...
He said that all sinners, everyone, had a hand in the death of Jesus, since He laid down His life to redeem us sinners. The pope means that the Jewish people as a whole are not specifically responsible for the death of Jesus. This is not new teaching, see Paul in the letters.
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