The Catholic-Jewish Dialogue of Collier County presents 'The Pope's Rabbi' Sunday, 02/20/2022

NAPLES, Fla. - Dec. 15, 2021 - PRLog -- The Catholic-Jewish Dialogue of Collier County presents Rabbi Abraham Skorka on 3 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 20, 2022 in the ballroom of St. John the Evangelist Church at 625 111th Ave. N., Naples.

Skorka was rector of the Latin American Rabbinical seminary and a leading rabbi in Argentina when he and cardinal Jorge Bergoglio of Buenos Aires, now Pope Francis, began collaboration through personal meetings, writings and numerous TV appearances.  Both started a relationship to promote interreligious dialogue between Catholics, Jews and others in their community.

"For the Jewish community of Naples, Rabbi Skorka's presence and relationship with Pope Francis demonstrates a significant change to a shared history, showing the whole world that even after two thousand years, religious hatred can be overcome," said Luba Rotsztain, Catholic-Jewish Dialogue of Collier County committee co-chair.

Discussion between rabbis and Catholics was not unique, but the 25-year dialogue between Skorka and Pope Francis is truly historic by its depth, intensity and durability.

According to Skorka, "Our personal dialogues had taken on the mission of spreading true dialogue throughout society in as many ways as possible."

Noted Martin Gauthier, Catholic-Jewish Dialogue of Collier County committee co-chair, "Participating in the committee was an opportunity to do something positive on a bigger scale because bringing people together from different faiths has a positive effect."

As an ordained rabbi with a doctorate in chemistry and four honorary doctorates, Skorka is credited with numerous biophysics publications and abstracts and has published seven books, two with Pope Francis, and dozens of articles on moral and ethical matters. Skorka wrote the introduction to Pope Francis' official biography, and in 2014, he accompanied the pope on a tour of the Middle East, including participating in a widely publicized joint prayer for peace at the Western Wall.

Tickets for Skorka's presentation are $18 and sold in advance by Jewish Federation of Greater Naples at jewishnaples.org. If still available, tickets will be $25 at the door.

The Catholic-Jewish Dialogue is affiliated with the Catholic Diocese of Venice and Jewish Federation of Greater Naples. Their mission is to build bridges of understanding between the two religions through a meaningful dialogue that represents the best of the two communities.

About Jewish Federation of Greater Naples

Jewish Federation of Greater Naples (https://www.jewishnaples.org/) is the thread that runs through the fabric of the Jewish Community, its organizations and services, connecting us all. The Federation creates a sense of community for thousands of Jewish residents in Greater Naples and its surrounding areas by creating and supporting programs to further Jewish learning, identity, pride and culture. For information, visit jewishnaples.org, call 239-263-4205 or email info@jewishnaples.org.