Jewish leaders have cautiously welcomed the election of former Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, who will become the new Pope Benedict XVI, saying they hope he will continue his predecessor’s work to improve Jewish-Catholic relations.

British and Israeli media were however quick to point out that Ratzinger had been a member of the Hitler youth movement during WWII.

The new Pope has in the past declared that he was an “unwilling participant” in Hitler’s movement, adding that the experience increased his sensibility towards Jews and showed him the evils of racism.

Some Jewish leaders also pointed to the fact that Ratzinger issued the the “Declaration Dominus lesus” treatise in 2000, in which he said that non-Catholic religions are “gravely deficient.”

Influential and controversial

The Pope's voice will be important in framing some of the great challenges of the 21st century

Jonathan Sacks, British Chief Rabbi

The German Ratzinger, 78, is the successor of John Paul II, who is seen as the pope who did the most for Jewish-Catholic relations in the history of the Catholic Church.

As a cardinal, the new pope was a close confidant of John Paul II and one of the most influential and controversial members of the college of cardinals.

He is also regarded as one of the church’s sharpest theologians.

Since 1981 he heads the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, the Vatican department charged with defending orthodoxy in virtually every area of church life. 

Alleviating poverty

“I have no doubt that relations between Jews and Catholics will develop under his reign,” Rene Samuel Sirat, France’s former Chief Rabbi told EJP.

It is good for the Jews that [Ratinger] has clear-cut views

Riccardo di Segni, Rome’s Chief Rabbi

Britain’s Chief Rabbi Jonathan Sacks told the BBC that he hoped the new pope would continue to work at improving relations between Christianity and Judaism.

"As a global leader in a global age, his voice will be important in framing some of the great challenges of the 21st century," he said.

"I hope... that he will speak in defense of the covenant of human solidarity in alleviating poverty and disease, illiteracy and absence of hope in so many parts of the world,” he added.

Paul Spiegel, president of the Central Council of German Jews, said he was convinced that the new pope would improve the understanding between Christians and Jews.

A ’serious man’

Rome’s Chief Rabbi, Riccardo di Segni, told EJP that Jews should appreciate the qualities of the new pope, citing “his wisdom, intelligence and coherence.”

“Even though we have very different point of views, it is good for the Jews that he has clear-cut views. He is a very serious man,” he added.

Cardinal Ratzinger, who is said to be well-versed in Jewish issues, has in the past made several declarations on Judaism.

He admitted that “a certain insufficient resistance by Christians to the Holocaust is explained by the anti-Judaism present in the souls of more than a few Christians.”

However, despite the denunciation of the Holocaust as an “atrocity,” Ratzinger angered Jews for failing to acknowledge Catholic complicity in it.