• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Catholic Review

Catholic Review

Inspiring the Archdiocese of Baltimore

Menu
  • Home
  • News
        • Local News
        • World News
        • Vatican News
        • Obituaries
        • Featured Video
        • En Español
        • Sports News
        • Official Clergy Assignments
        • Schools News
  • Commentary
        • Contributors
          • Question Corner
          • George Weigel
          • Elizabeth Scalia
          • Michael R. Heinlein
          • Effie Caldarola
          • Guest Commentary
        • CR Columnists
          • Archbishop William E. Lori
          • Rita Buettner
          • Christopher Gunty
          • George Matysek Jr.
          • Mark Viviano
          • Father Joseph Breighner
          • Father Collin Poston
          • Robyn Barberry
          • Hanael Bianchi
          • Amen Columns
  • Entertainment
        • Events
        • Movie & Television Reviews
        • Arts & Culture
        • Books
        • Recipes
  • About Us
        • Contact Us
        • Our History
        • Meet Our Staff
        • Photos to own
        • Books/CDs/Prayer Cards
        • CR Media platforms
        • Electronic Edition
  • Advertising
  • Shop
        • Purchase Photos
        • Books/CDs/Prayer Cards
        • Magazine Subscriptions
        • Archdiocesan Directory
  • CR Radio
        • CR Radio
        • Protagonistas de Fe
  • News Tips
  • Subscribe
Pope Francis greets Rabbi Riccardo Di Segni, chief rabbi of Rome, during an audience with a delegation from the Conference of European Rabbis, in this file photo taken in the Apostolic Palace at the Vatican Nov. 6, 2023. (CNS photo/Vatican Media)

Rome rabbi accuses pope of ‘selective indignation’ about Gaza

January 17, 2025
By Cindy Wooden
Catholic News Service
Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, Ecumenism and Interfaith Relations, News, Vatican, World News

Share
Share on Facebook
Share
Share this
Pin
Pin this
Share
Share on LinkedIn

ROME (CNS) — The chief rabbi of Rome said Christian-Jewish dialogue has been a victim of the war unleashed with the Hamas attack on Israel in October 2023.

“The moment we are living in is one in which it seems that the church is again giving in to the temptation to cut ties with Judaism,” Rabbi Riccardo Di Segni, the chief rabbi of Rome, said Jan. 16 during a meeting at Rome’s Pontifical Lateran University.

The rabbi accused Pope Francis of fueling anti-Israeli and anti-Jewish sentiments by focusing on the suffering of Palestinians in Gaza and not acknowledging the multiple threats to Israel’s existence.

Rabbi Riccardo Di Segni, chief rabbi of Rome, is seen in a file photo taken at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome Oct. 9, 2023. (CNS photo/Lola Gomez)

Rabbi Di Segni said it was a case of “selective indignation.”

Speaking at an annual meeting to promote Catholic-Jewish dialogue in the Diocese of Rome, the rabbi quoted a writer who said, “A pope cannot divide the world into children and stepchildren and therefore must denounce the suffering of all.”

“I fully agree,” the rabbi said. “But that is precisely what the pope does not do.”

Father Marco Gnavi, director of the diocese’s office for ecumenical and interreligious dialogue and host of the meeting, told Rabbi Di Segni, “I do not believe it is true that the pope is silent about some of the horrors of our day,” including the barbarity of the Hamas attack on Israel and their continued holding of hostages as well as more widespread threats against Israel.

“You can’t ask us not to suffer both with you and with others,” Father Gnavi said.

In addition, Father Gnavi said, criticizing Israel’s military actions in Gaza does not mean questioning Israel’s right to exist or to defend itself, although he said Catholics must take care not to cross a line that could feed into anti-Israeli or anti-Jewish propaganda.

Insisting that the only “enemy is hatred,” the priest said Catholics and Jews must continue their dialogue and their efforts to learn more about each other and to share that knowledge with younger generations of Catholics and Jews.

Rabbi Di Segni said that while he believes the Catholic-Jewish relationship is “a dialogue that has been ruined for months,” he also insisted that “for those who believe, dialogue is not and cannot be something trivial to interrupt.”

In his speech Jan. 9 to diplomats accredited to the Holy See, Pope Francis had renewed his call for a cease-fire, which may go into effect Jan. 19, and he called again for the release of the hostages.

But the pope also spoke about “Gaza, where there is a very serious and shameful humanitarian situation.”

“My prayerful hope is that Israelis and Palestinians can rebuild the bridges of dialogue and mutual trust, starting with the smallest, so that future generations can live side by side in the two states, in peace and security.”

Read More Conflict in the Middle East

For Gazans, the deep silence of hunger has replaced noise of daily life

Radio Interview: The situation in Gaza with Catholic Near East Welfare Association

Ambassadors call attention to starving Israeli hostages, Gazan civilians

Children of Abraham: Let us find another way to peace

Lebanese Catholic clergy commemorate Beirut port explosion victims five years later

Pope Leo stands with youth in Gaza, Ukraine, calls for dialogue, not war

Copyright © 2025 Catholic News Service/U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops

Print Print

Share
Share on Facebook
Share
Share this
Pin
Pin this
Share
Share on LinkedIn

Primary Sidebar

Cindy Wooden

Click here to view all posts from this author

For the latest news delivered twice a week via email or text message, sign up to receive our free enewsletter.

| MOST POPULAR |

  • Patrick Brice sentenced to home detention for attacks on elderly pro-life supporters

  • Statue of Confederate general known as anti-Catholic to be reinstalled in nation’s capital

  • Movie Review: ‘The Naked Gun’

  • Mary’s assumption: The long-held belief was declared dogma 75 years ago

  • Gun buyback exceeds expectations, previous totals

| Latest Local News |

Project PLASE hopes Beacon House Square shines a light in Southwest Baltimore 

Baltimore NBCC leader among People of Life awards winners

Gun buyback exceeds expectations, previous totals

Radio Interview: The situation in Gaza with Catholic Near East Welfare Association

Patrick Brice sentenced to home detention for attacks on elderly pro-life supporters

| Latest World News |

Texas woman sues ex-partner, abortion pill provider, alleging she was given drugs without consent

Canadian court OKs priest’s abuse suit against prominent priest, religious order

Judge blocks religious exemption to birth control coverage; Little Sisters of the Poor to appeal

Catholic University of America Press to publish Pope Leo’s dissertation

Pope says he hopes Trump-Putin meeting leads to ceasefire in Ukraine

| Catholic Review Radio |

CatholicReview · Catholic Review Radio

Footer

Our Vision

Real Life. Real Faith. 

Catholic Review Media communicates the Gospel and its impact on people’s lives in the Archdiocese of Baltimore and beyond.

Our Mission

Catholic Review Media provides intergenerational communications that inform, teach, inspire and engage Catholics and all of good will in the mission of Christ through diverse forms of media.

Contact

Catholic Review
320 Cathedral Street
Baltimore, MD 21201
443-524-3150
mail@CatholicReview.org

 

Social Media

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Recent

  • Texas woman sues ex-partner, abortion pill provider, alleging she was given drugs without consent
  • Canadian court OKs priest’s abuse suit against prominent priest, religious order
  • Project PLASE hopes Beacon House Square shines a light in Southwest Baltimore 
  • Judge blocks religious exemption to birth control coverage; Little Sisters of the Poor to appeal
  • Catholic University of America Press to publish Pope Leo’s dissertation
  • Mary’s assumption: The long-held belief was declared dogma 75 years ago
  • Baltimore NBCC leader among People of Life awards winners
  • Pope says he hopes Trump-Putin meeting leads to ceasefire in Ukraine
  • Sisters of Life ‘are the very mirror of God,’ cardinal says as 3 take perpetual vows

Search

Membership

Catholic Media Assocation

Maryland-Delaware-DC Press Association

The Associated Church Press

© 2025 CATHOLIC REVIEW MEDIA, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

en Englishes Spanish
en en