Vatican celebrates anniversary of outreach to jews

Pope Benedict XVI today marked the 40th anniversary of a landmark Vatican document on relations with Jews, calling for a renewed commitment for Catholics and Jews to deepen their bonds and work for the good of all humanity.

Benedict issued a message that was read out during a commemoration of the “Nostra Aetate” document of the Second Vatican Council, in which the Catholic Church deplored anti-Semitism and repudiated the “deicide” charge that blamed Jews as a people for Christ’s death.