Rabbi ‘optimistic’ about relations with Catholic Church under Pope Leo

Pope Leo XIV’s First Message to Jewish Community Was ‘Extraordinary,’ American Rabbi Says

Pope Leo XIV holds an audience with representatives of the media in Paul VI hall at the Vatican, May 12, 2025. Photo: REUTERS/Guglielmo Mangiapane Rabbi Noam Marans, director of interreligious affairs at the American Jewish Committee (AJC), spoke with The Algemeiner this week about being among a number of faith leaders to meet with newly elected Pope Leo XIV, and why he has optimism for Catholic-Jewish relations. “In his remarks [to a couple hun…

Rabbi ‘optimistic’ about relations with Catholic Church under Pope Leo

ROME – An American rabbi has voiced optimism for Catholic-Jewish relations after the election of Pope Leo XIV, saying his pontificate marks an opportunity for renewal given a spike in tensions during the last months of Francis’s papacy. “I am optimistic about Catholic Jewish relations…an American pope bodes well for Catholic Jewish relations. Period,” Rabbi Noam Marans told journalists during a recent roundtable conversation with members of the …