PM Netanyahu Sends Letter to Pope Benedict XVI
(Communicated by the Prime Minister's Media Adviser)
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, today (Monday, 18 February 2013), sent
the following letter to Pope Benedict XVI:
On behalf of the people of Israel, I want to thank you for all you have done
as Pope to strengthen relations between Christians and Jews and between the
Vatican and the Jewish State. I thank you also for courageously defending
Judeo-Christian values and the roots of our common civilization during your
time as pontiff. I have no doubt that these values, which were so essential
to building the modern world, are no less critical to securing a future of
security, prosperity and peace.
Your historic visit to Israel in 2009
offered a rare opportunity to give expression to the new relations between
our faiths. I remember fondly our meeting
in which you referred to Judaism as Christianity's elder brother and in
which you reaffirmed your commitment to a cooperative future between
Christians and Jews.
I thank you for your leadership during these very turbulent times, and wish
you long life, health and happiness."