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Meetings

Dates

Site

Event or Meeting Theme

October 28, 1965

Vatican City

Promulgation of the Second Vatican Council document, Nostra Aetate (Declaration on the Relationship of the Church to Non-Christian Religions). It calls for dialogues between Catholics and Jews. .

Dec. 20-23, 1970

Rome

As a result of the Second Vatican Council, a first meeting on the international level between Catholics and Jews occurs. Members of the International Jewish Committee for Interreligious Consultations (IJCIC) and the Office for Catholic-Jewish Relations propose creation of an International Catholic-Jewish Liaison Committee (ILC) with the aims of improving mutual understanding, exchanging information, and cooperating in areas of common responsibility and concern.

1

Dec. 14-16, 1971

Paris

First organizational meeting of the ILC.

2

Dec. 18-20, 1972

Marseilles

Themes: Relationship of people, religion, and land; human rights and religious freedom

3

Dec. 4-6, 1973

Antwerp

Themes: The above plus Israel and Middle East, Soviet Jews, international human rights. Suggestion made for new Vatican commission.

1974

Vatican City

Pope Paul VI establishes Commission for Religious Relations with the Jews under the Pontifical Council for the Promotion of Christian Unity, directed by Johannes Cardinal Willebrands. Its first project is the publication of "Guidelines and Suggestions for Implementing the Conciliar Declaration Nostra Aetate No. 4."

4

Jan. 7-10, 1975

Rome

Theme: The Guidelines of 1974

5

Mar. 1-3,1976

Jerusalem

Theme: Ten years of relations between Catholic Church and Judaism.

6

Mar. 28-30, 1977

Venice

Theme: Mission and Witness of the Church (Should it proselytize Jews?)

7

Apr. 5-7, 1978

Madrid

Theme: How the Traditions Educate About Each Other

8

Oct. 22-25, 1979

Regensburg

Theme: Religious Freedom, Education for Dialogue in a Pluralistic Society

9

Mar 31-4/2, 1981

London

Theme: Challenge of Secularism in Our Religious Communities

10

Oct. 6-9, 1982

Milan

Theme: Sanctity/Meaning of Life in Present Situation of Violence

11

Mar. 27-29, 1984

Amsterdam

Theme: Youth and Faith

June 24, 1985

Vatican City

Vatican Commission for Religious Relations with the Jews publishes "Notes on the Correct Way to Present Jews & Judaism in Preaching and Teaching in the Roman Catholic Church."

12

Oct. 28-30, 1985

Rome

Theme: 20^th Anniversary of Nostra Aetate; the Vatican Notes

April 13, 1986

Rome

Pope John Paul II makes a historic visit to the chief Synagogue of Rome. In his address there he states that Judaism and Christianity are "intrinsically related" and that to Christians, Jews are "elder brothers".

1987

Planned ILC meeting for December 1987 in Washington is derailed by several crises including the Auschwitz convent dispute and the reception by the Pope of Austrian leader Kurt Waldheim. At a meeting with Jewish leaders, the Pope approves the suggestion that the Vatican prepare a statement on the Shoah.

13

Sept. 3-6, 1990

Prague

Theme: the Shoah. Its work launches the writing by the Commission of a document on the Shoah. ILC releases a Joint Declaration on Antisemitism 

14

1992

Baltimore

Theme: 25 years of dialogue

Dec. 30, 1993

Jerusalem

"Fundamental Agreement Between the Holy See and the State of Israel" is signed, which is to lead in 1994 to the establishment of full diplomatic relations and the exchange of ambassadors.

15

May 23-26, 1994

Jerusalem

Themes: Anti-Semitism, education and ecology. A document on ecology commences. A draft of a German bishops’ statement on the Shoah is presented to the ILC for conversation as a possible basis for the Vatican statement. This is leaked to the media, erroneously, as a draft of the Vatican document. ILC issues a Common Declaration on the Family.

June 15, 1994

Full diplomatic relations between the Holy See and the State of Israel are established. Israel’s first ambassador to the Holy See is welcomed to Vatican City on September 29.

A planned 1996 ILC meeting in Buenos Aires is cancelled for various organizational reasons on the Jewish side.

Oct 30-Nov 1, 1997

Vatican City

Invitational symposium of sixty, mostly Catholic, scholars held under the auspices of the committee for the great Jubilee of the Year 2000 entitled, "The Roots of Anti-Judaism in the Christian Milieu." The Pope calls for its work to be done "with scholarly rigor, in the conviction that to serve the truth is to serve Christ himself and his church."

March 16, 1998

Vatican City

Issuance by the Commission for Religious Relations with the Jews of "We Remember: A Reflection on the Shoah."

16

Mar. 23-26, 1998

Vatican City

Theme: "What and How Do We and Ought We Teach About Each Other?" Liaison Committee issues a "Common Declaration on the Environment" in addition to its usual Joint Communiqué..

17

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