Pope Leo XIV on Wednesday reaffirmed the Catholic Church’s condemnation of antisemitism and pledged to combat it, amid rising tensions linked to Israel’s war in Gaza, reports AP.

Speaking during a general audience marking the 60th anniversary of the landmark Vatican document Nostra Aetate, the pope acknowledged past misunderstandings and conflicts with Jews but stressed the church’s ongoing commitment to friendship with the Jewish community.

The document, issued in 1965, repudiates the “deicide” charge that blamed Jews collectively for Christ’s death and condemns antisemitism in all forms. Leo quoted Nostra Aetate, emphasizing that the church “does not tolerate antisemitism and fights against it, on the basis of the Gospel itself.”

The anniversary comes as antisemitic incidents linked to the Israel-Gaza conflict surge worldwide. In the United States, the Anti-Defamation League reported a record 9,354 incidents last year, with 58% connected to Israel, including chants and protests at rallies.

Leo called for continued dialogue, noting that political circumstances and injustices should not disrupt the special relationship between Christians and Jews. He said, “Even today, we must not allow political circumstances and the injustices of some to divert us from friendship, especially since we have achieved so much so far.”

Rabbi Noam Marans, director of interreligious affairs at the American Jewish Committee, welcomed the pope’s acknowledgment and urged the Vatican to actively use its moral influence to combat antisemitism.

The pope’s remarks contrast with recent tensions surrounding comments by Pope Francis, which some Jewish and Israeli leaders viewed as drawing a moral equivalence between Hamas attacks and Israel’s military response in Gaza.

Leo’s address highlighted the church’s ongoing effort to strengthen interfaith dialogue and reaffirm its historic stance against antisemitism.

MSH

At least 34 people, including two babies were killed when a contraband fuel depot exploded into flames in southern Benin near the border with Nigeria on Saturday.

According to Beninese Interior Minister Alassane Seidou, “a serious fire occurred in the town of Seme Podji. Another 20 people were seriously wounded in the incident.”

"I can't really give you the cause of the fire, but there is a large gasoline warehouse here and cars, tricycles and motorcycles come from morning to evening,” he added.

Nigeria is a main oil and gas producer where fuel smuggling is very common along its borders, particularly when the government maintains a subsidy to keep fuel prices low.

The majority of the victims were burnt and they could not be not be identified.

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