Pope Benedict XVI has exonerated the Jewish nation from the killing of Jesus Christ in a new book.
“In his latest volume of “Jesus of Nazareth,” Pope Benedict XVI says the condemnation of Christ had complex political and religious causes and cannot be blamed on the Jewish people as a whole.” Catholic news
The reason this is seen as important, is made abundantly clear in a Israeli newspaper’s report of what Prime Minister Netanyahu wrote to the pope: “”I commend you for rejecting in your new book the false claim that was used as a basis for the hatred of Jews for hundreds of years,” Netanyahu wrote to the pontiff.
The prime minister added that he hopes “the clarity and bravery” shown by Benedict will strengthen relations between Jews and Christians worldwide and promote peace in the next generations. “I look forward to seeing you again soon and expressing my deep esteem for you personally”
Thanking the pope
Then there is an opinion writer for the same newspaper who sees this in a larger framework of where the world is moving towards religious wars (Christian/Muslim) again, and he believes it is a good thing that the Christians don’t view the Jews as an enemy this time. Preparing for holy wars
This pope is quite intelligent, so it is a bit of a surprise to see him basically refute the idea that he speaks for ALL the Catholics in the world, by writing that the actions of the Jewish leaders did not implicate all the Jewish nation in the death of Christ.
Inspired words say this in the 1858 Great Controversy book: “The Jews who first started the rage of the heathen against Jesus, were not to escape. In the judgment hall the infuriated Jews cried, as Pilate hesitated to condemn Jesus, His blood be on us and on our children. The race of the Jews experienced the fulfillment of this terrible curse which they called down upon their own heads. Heathen and those called Christians were alike their foes. Those professed Christians, in their zeal for the cross of Christ, because the Jews had crucified Jesus, thought that the more suffering they could bring upon them, the better could they please God; and many of those unbelieving Jews were killed, while others were driven from place to place, and were punished in almost every manner.
The blood of Christ, and of the disciples, whom they had put to death, was upon them, and in terrible judgments were they visited. The curse of God followed them, and they were a by-word and a derision to the heathen and to Christians. They were shunned, degraded and detested, as though the brand of Cain was upon them. Yet I saw that God marvelously preserved this people, and had scattered them over the world, that they might be looked upon as especially visited by a curse from God. I saw that God had forsaken the Jews as a nation; yet there was a portion of them who would be enabled to tear away the veil from their hearts. Some will yet see that prophecy has been fulfilled concerning them, and they will receive Jesus as the Saviour of the world, and see the great sin of their nation in rejecting Jesus, and crucifying him. Individuals among the Jews will be converted; but as a nation they are forever forsaken of God.”
1Thess 5:3 For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.