December 6, 2016 // Local

Exhibit of papal visits to the Holy Land open

Todays Catholic

Dr. Donald Friedman, president, Jewish Federation of Fort Wayne, views the gallery following an opening reception on Dec. 5. Bishop Kevin C. Rhoades gave a welcome, along with Itay Milner, deputy consul general of Israel to the Midwest. The keynote speaker was Rabbi Yehiel Poupko, who spoke on “The Advancement of the Roman Catholic Church’s Relations with the Jewish People under the Stewardship of John Paul II, Benedict XVI and Francis.”

Images of visits to the Holy Land of Israel by Catholic popes are on display in Fort Wayne through Dec. 15 in an exhibit titled “The Popes’ Visits to the Holy Land: Building Bridges of Faith.”

The 44 historic images depicting stirring scenes as well as quiet, intimate moments during papal visits to the Holy Land from 1964 to 2014.

Jointly sponsored by Aviv Ezra, consul general of Israel to the Midwest, and Bishop Kevin C. Rhoades of the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend, the exhibit is designed to engage the broader community and illustrate the positive interreligious dialogue between Catholics and Jews. The diocese’s co-sponsorship is an expression of support for the exhibit. Executive Director of the Jewish Federation, Jaki Schrier, called it “the Jewish community’s early Christmas gift to the Catholic community.”

“I am deeply grateful to the Jewish Federation of Fort Wayne for co-sponsoring the exhibition of the historic visits of our recent Popes to the Holy Land. I am looking forward to seeing the exhibition and encourage the Catholics of our diocese to join our Jewish brothers and sisters in visiting the exhibit,” said Bishop Rhoades.

The public can view the exhibit at the Rifkin Campus, 5200 Old Mill Road, Fort Wayne.

For more information click on the event page at www.jewishfortwayne.org