Rome (AsiaNews) – For Fr Pierbattista Pizzaballa , Custodian of the Holy Land, the ongoing Jewish-Catholic dialogue should not be influenced by political events, which are contingent, but should rather be based on the truth and brotherly and friendly relations, which alone can preserve us from conflict.

Father Pizzaballa, who was for many years in charge of Israel's Catholic community, spoke to AsiaNews on the occasion of the 16th Day of Jewish-Catholic Dialogue.

He said that the debate over Pius XII's alleged anti-Semitism is neither rational nor peaceful enough and that it was unfair to reduce Jewish-Catholic dialogue to this one aspect. Instead, the parties should take a broader view.

Here is the full interview.

The paper for the Day of Jewish-Catholic Dialogue invites the parties to beat war and terrorism through justice and charity. How can Jews and Catholics work together to this effect?

We must keep in mind a third aspect, namely the truth and the need for justice and charity.

We may differ over how to achieve justice, what are best ways to implement it, but we must be charitable to one another.

Friendly, correct and brotherly relations between the parties can preserve us from conflict.

If from a theological point of view the dialogue between Jews and Catholics has advanced, politically, their relations remain tense over questions such as the separation wall and the status of the Catholic Church in Israel . . .

First of all, let us not be too hasty; our expectations should not be too high. Relations between Christianity and Judaism go back thousands of years and no one can expect things to change over night.

Secondly, the political aspect in Jewish-Christian relations is neither the only one that matters nor the most important. We must keep the two separate.

Jewish-catholic dialogue should be influenced by political events, which are by definition contingent.

You were in charge of Israel's Hebrew-speaking Catholic community. What can these faithful offer the Church?

Hebrew-speaking Catholics in Israel have always had a dual function: one towards Israel, the other towards the Church.

Catholic Jews have to show Israel that the Church is not hostile as many Jews have thought. And they can show that being Catholic does not mean harbouring anti-Jewish beliefs or giving up one's identity. Their role is emphasise how much the two religions have in common.

They must also show the Church that to be fully Christian we must reach back into our roots, which are Jewish.

What do you think about the controversy over the role of Pius XII during the holocaust and the responsibilities of the Church . . .

It seems that these days the Jewish-Catholic dialogue is all about Pius XII. I think it is unfair to do so. Jewish-Catholic relations should be broader and our horizons towards the issue, wider.

As to the recent spat, I think there is too much passion; discussions are not rational or peaceful enough. Positions among both historians and theologians are too rigid. Perhaps, it is too early to talk about the issue because the wounds caused by the holocaust are still too close to the surface.