Bishops of South Africa Defend Pope Francis after Rabbi Goldstein Accused the Pope of “colluding with the forces of evil who seek to annihilate the Jewish people”

Catholic Bishops Reprimand SA Chief Rabbi’s Social Media Attack on the Pope and Catholic Church
In an open letter addressed to the Chief Rabbi of The Union of Orthodox Synagogues of South Africa, members of the Southern African Catholic Bishops Conference (SACBC) reprimand Rabbi Goldstein for accusing Pope Francis of “colluding with the forces of evil who seek to annihilate the Jewish people”.
“We believe the allegations you present as proof of Pope Francis and the Catholic Church’s hatred of Jews lack truth and objectivity and have an air of mistrust and character assassination,” said the Bishops in the Saturday, December 23 open letter signed by the SACBC President.
In their response to Rabbi Goldstein’s opinion video shared on social media on Tuesday, December 19, Bishop Sithembele Sipuka says that although Rabbi Goldstein’s “public attack on the Pope is regrettable,” the SACBC remains “open to the possibility of personal engagement.”
The members of the SACBC bemoaned Rabbi Goldstein’s statements indicating his belief “that the Pope hates Jews,” and reminded the Chief Rabbi of Pope Francis’s visit to Israel at the start of his Papacy in 2014.
“Pope Francis began his papacy by visiting Israel in 2014. During that journey, he expressed joy about Catholics and Jews being bound by a very special spiritual bond, pledging to work to advance further the progress there has been in relations between Jews and Catholics since the Second Vatican Council in a spirit of renewed collaboration,” they stated.
In the December 23 open letter, the Catholic Bishops of South Africa, Botswana, and Eswatini said Rabbi Goldstein’s description of “Pope Francis’ desire for peace as “primitive pacifism” is regrettable and “calls into question how (he), as a religious leader, would work for justice and peace, equality and reconciliation.”
“As you know, Chief Rabbi, our country, South Africa, was at war, but it was not the war that brought us where we are today. This war is not going to bring about justice and peace. Instead, it is condemning future generations to ongoing hatred and violence,” reads the letter.
In the letter members of the SACBC reiterate that “Pope Francis and the Catholic Church are not enemies of the Jewish people,” but friends that “share the same Abrahamic faith.”

“But true friends must speak the truth even if it is unwanted,” they say, and add, “The fact is, Rabbi, Israel has many friends throughout the world who are distraught at what is happening, the ongoing killing and the traumatisation of a whole nation.”

In their concluding remarks, members of the SACBC advise the Chief Rabbi “to take time to listen to what (his) friends are saying.”

They condemn the “Holocaust and the Hamas attack of 7 October 2023,” and reiterate their desire “to the possibility of engaging with (the Chief Rabbi) towards a peaceful Holy Land and peaceful world.”

Press release from the Catholic Bishops of South Africa  - https://sacbc.org.za/catholic-bishops-reprimand-sa-chief-rabbis-social-media-attack-on-the-pope-and-catholic-church/