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Catholic cardinals shared Italian Jews’ concerns that pope ‘abandoned’ them, veteran journalist says

Summarizing Lahav Harkov in Jewish Insider · Published Wednesday, May 7, 2025
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JL;DR SUMMARY Italian Catholic cardinals are expressing solidarity with the local Jewish community's concerns that Pope Francis was insensitive to the suffering of Israelis amidst the ongoing conflict. A way out west there was a fella, fella I want to tell you about, fella by the name of Jeff Lebowski. At least, that was the handle his lovin' parents gave him, but he never had much use for it himself. This Lebowski, he called himself the Dude. Now, Dude, that's a name no one would self-apply where I come from. But then, there was a lot about the Dude that didn't make a whole lot of sense to me. And a lot about where he lived, likewise. But then again, maybe that's why I found the place s'durned innarestin'.

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Tags

Jewish Community  European Jews  Vatican  Pope Francis  Catholic Church  Interfaith Relations  Anti Israel Sentiment  Italy  Papal Conclave  Maurizio Molinari 

Places mentioned

Rome, Italy
"Italian Catholic cardinals showed solidarity with the local Jewish community, many of whose members felt Pope Francis was insensitive to the suffering of Israelis in the ongoing war, Maurizio Molinari, former editor-in-chief of major Italian daily la Repubblica, told Jewish Insider on Monday. Speaking as the cardinals began to gather in Rome to choose a new pope to replace Pope Francis, who died last month, Molinari noted that Italian Jewish and Catholic leaders have historical strong relations."
Bologna, Italy
"There is no question that the one that historically has the strongest relations with the Jews is [Zuppi], simply because he was born in Rome in the same neighborhood as the Jewish Quarter close to the synagogue, Molinari said. He understands. We dont even need to tell him, he knows, because he has so many human connections [with the Jewish community] that have defined him very much. Molinari, 60, was the editor-in-chief of la Repubblica from 2020-2024 and continues to provide commentary for the paper. He was a longtime foreign ....."
Naples, Italy
"The journalist pointed to a recent music festival in Rome with tens of thousands of attendees, in which a band sang Free Palestine to the tune of Hava Nagila, and a case in which Israeli tourists were thrown out of a pizzeria in Naples because of their nationality."
Jerusalem, Israel
"He was a longtime foreign correspondent whose last overseas post was in Jerusalem before becoming editor-in-chief of another major Italian newspaper, La Stampa, in 2016. Molinari has written 21 books about Jewish subjects, American politics, U.S.-Italy relations and radical Islam."
Palestinian Territories
"He condemned the deplorable humanitarian situation in his final public appearance before his death in April and one of his final wishes was to have one of his popemobiles retrofitted to serve as a mobile aid provider in Gaza."
Israel
"While Pope Francis condemned the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attacks on Israel and met with Israeli hostage families, he more frequently spoke about the suffering of people in Gaza."
Germany
"The biggest surprise for all those who love the West is how much Germany stands up for Israel in the war against Hamas, not only in public statements and policies, but in human behavior, he said."
France
"Molinari emphasized that the situation in Italy is not as bad as in other European countries with large Jewish communities, such as the U.K., France or Belgium, but in comparison with what the Italians were used to, the situation is worsening day by day."
United Kingdom
"Molinari emphasized that the situation in Italy is not as bad as in other European countries with large Jewish communities, such as the U.K., France or Belgium, but in comparison with what the Italians were used to, the situation is worsening day by day."
Belgium
"Molinari emphasized that the situation in Italy is not as bad as in other European countries with large Jewish communities, such as the U.K., France or Belgium, but in comparison with what the Italians were used to, the situation is worsening day by day."
Ukraine
"A muscular U.S.-Europe alliance is also important for the continents Jews, Molinari said. When I grew up, my grandmother told me that as long as there are U.S. military bases in Europe, we can be safe, he said. The moment where the U.S. and Europe dont get along, the Jews enter the danger zone."
Russian Federation
"The Germans showed that they understood that to defend Israel is to defend democracy and for them, it is the same war with Ukraine, its the same trenches. There are no differences, and when you see [Russian President Vladimir] Putin receiving Hamas in Moscow, that is confirmation."
Spain
"If you get these pieces together, you may understand there is a pro-Western front inside the European Union led by Germany and Italy. France is kind of on the middle, while on the other, lets say the pro-Palestinian front, is led by Spain, Molinari said."

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Retrieved 2025-05-08 05:30:43 UTC
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