Pope Francis, the Jewish community, and the Holy Land —

As Pope Francis faces the twilight of his papacy, with reports that his health is waning, many of us of course pray for his recovery. His contributions to interfaith dialogue, particularly with the Jewish community, have been notable, as have his efforts to foster peace, justice, and reconciliation. I met Pope Francis through my dear friend Gary Krupp of the Pave the Way Foundation, and I’m on my way to the Vatican for what was supposed to be another meeting. Gary is a righteous man and a great Jew, who has arguably done more to foster Jewish-Catholic relations than any man alive. He has been knighted by three popes, John Paul II, Benedict XVI, and Francis. Gary and I disagree on the legacy of Pius XII, and it’s an ongoing discussion between us. But few Jews have done more to connect the State of Israel to the Catholic Church than Gary. And that includes bringing Francis much closer to the Jewish community.

However, the complexity of the Pope’s relationship with the Jewish community, and especially his mixed stance on Israel, has made his legacy a subject of significant reflection. While he is widely and justly seen as a great friend to the Jewish people, he often has been perceived as somewhat hostile to Israel, especially regarding political matters. In light of his current health struggles, it may be an opportune time for Pope Francis to clarify his position on Israel, offering a public statement affirming the biblical truth: that God gave Israel to the Jewish people as an eternal inheritance. Such a statement could significantly influence his legacy and serve as a bridge of understanding between the Catholic Church, Israel, and the Jewish community at large.

For years, Pope Francis has been deeply committed to fostering better relations between Catholics and Jews, acknowledging the long history of persecution and misunderstanding that has marred the relationship between the two faiths. Under his leadership, the Catholic church has worked to repair the wounds of the past, underscored by his ongoing efforts to combat antisemitism and uphold the principles of the Second Vatican Council’s Nostra Aetate, which calls for mutual respect and dialogue between Jews and Christians. Francis also has made significant gestures of solidarity with the Jewish community, including his visits to synagogues and his repeated calls for peace and reconciliation in the Holy Land.

However, the pope’s relationship with Israel is more complex. While he has frequently called for peace and justice for both Israelis and Palestinians, his criticism of Israeli policies in Judea and Samaria, and especially his underwhelming support for Israel’s need to remove Hamas permanently from power in Gaza, have raised concerns among many in the Jewish community. Some view his vocal criticism of Israeli actions as signaling a lack of support for Israel’s sovereignty and security. In particular, his advocacy for a two-state solution and his calls for dialogue and diplomacy have been interpreted by some as a challenge to Israel’s right to defend its borders and maintain its identity as the Jewish state. His positions on these matters have, at times, been seen as hostile to Israel, despite his ever-present public efforts to maintain positive relations with the Jewish people.

For Pope Francis, the challenge always has been balancing the moral imperative to advocate for the group he perceives to be the underdog — the Palestinians, even though Jews are outnumbered by Arabs in the Middle East 70 to 1 — with his theological views on the land of Israel. The key point of contention revolves around the biblical claim to the land by the Jewish people. The Torah is clear in its teachings: God promised the land to the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and the Jewish people are the rightful inheritors of this divine gift.

This promise is not just historical or political. It is spiritual, rooted in the sacred covenant between God and the Jewish people. It is affirmed time and again in both the Hebrew Bible and the New Testament, the Synoptic Gospels, and the Epistles of St. Paul. Yet despite the clear biblical foundation for Israel’s divine right to the land, Pope Francis often has refrained from making unequivocal statements affirming this principle in a public and explicit manner.

This moment in history presents an opportunity for Pope Francis to offer such a statement — one that acknowledges the divine connection between the Jewish people and the land of Israel in a way that mirrors the beliefs of American evangelicals, who have long been vocal in their unwavering support for Israel’s biblical right to the land. A statement like this, which affirms the eternal covenant between God and Israel, could have a profound impact on his legacy and the relationship between the Catholic Church and the Jewish community. A declaration along the lines of the following would be a powerful affirmation of the Catholic church’s recognition of Israel’s biblical right to the land and its moral responsibility toward the Jewish people:

“The Holy Father and the Universal Church, in accordance with the eternal and immutable truths enunciated in the Bible, recognize the Holy Land as an eternal divine gift, given by God to the Children of Israel. The Holy Father further affirms his unshakable belief that the Jewish people, to whom God has bequeathed the land as an eternal inheritance, will always treat the existing residents and inhabitants of the Holy Land with the rights, dignity, and equality called upon by God in the Bible to afford the resident stranger (ger toshav) in your midst.”

Such a statement not only would align Pope Francis with the biblical view of Israel’s divine inheritance but also would strengthen the ethical dimension of Israel’s treatment of its residents. The Torah’s commandments regarding the treatment of the ger toshav — the resident alien — are clear. The Jewish people are instructed to treat the ger toshav with respect, dignity, and fairness, acknowledging their humanity and ensuring that their rights are protected. This commandment speaks to the broader moral framework of Judaism, which emphasizes justice and compassion for all people, regardless of their background or faith. In this sense, Pope Francis’s potential statement could be understood as a reaffirmation of the biblical call for justice and equality, which transcends religious boundaries and provides a moral compass for Israel’s dealings with all its residents, including Palestinians and others living in the land.

If Pope Francis were to offer such a public statement, and if he would do so now as global antisemitism is at its highest point since the Holocaust, it would be a significant step in bridging the gap between his support for peace and his recognition of Israel’s divine connection to the land. It could offer clarity on his position, reinforcing his commitment to both the protection of Israel’s sovereignty and the moral treatment of all individuals living in the region. This would address the concerns of those in the Jewish community who see his stance on Israel as inconsistent with his otherwise positive relationship with Jews.

The timing of such a statement is particularly poignant given the state of the pope’s health. Pope Francis has expressed a deep commitment to the principles of peace, reconciliation, and justice throughout his papacy. By offering such a declaration, he would cement his legacy as a figure who not only worked to heal the wounds of the past but also championed the unassailable truth that Israel is the rightful homeland of the Jewish people, as God promised in the Bible. It would demonstrate that while Pope Francis is dedicated to peace for all people in the region, he also recognizes the biblical truths that form the foundation of Israel’s existence as well as that of the Catholic Church.

In the broader context, such a statement also would serve as a reminder to the world of the enduring spiritual and historical significance of the land of Israel for the Jewish people. The Holy Land is not just a place of political contention; it is a sacred space that has been central to Jewish faith, identity, and tradition for thousands of years. By recognizing this in a public statement, Pope Francis would affirm the deep bond that exists between the Jewish people and the land, offering a powerful moment of clarity in the ongoing discourse surrounding Israel and its place in the world.

In conclusion, as Pope Francis’s papacy potentially enters its twilight, even as we pray to God for his full and robust recovery, the time has come for him to offer a definitive statement on the Children of Israel’s biblical right to the land. Such a statement, affirming the divine gift of Israel to the Jewish people, would solidify his legacy as a friend to the Jewish people and a proponent of peace, justice, and moral responsibility. It would also offer a clear message to the world that the Catholic Church acknowledges the eternal and immutable truths of the Bible, including the divine connection between the Jewish people and the land of Israel. As we pray for Pope Francis’s recovery, we also hope for a moment of clarity and reconciliation — one that would echo through history and further strengthen the bond between the Catholic Church and the Jewish people.

Rabbi Shmuley Boteach of Englewood is the author of “Kosher Jesus.” Follow him on Instagram and Twitter @RabbiShmuley.