www.byzcath.org Forums News & Events Church News Rabbi Rosen invested as Papal knight

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Nov. 3, 2005 19:55 | Updated Nov. 3, 2005 20:00
Rabbi Rosen invested as Papal knight
By GREER FAY CASHMAN

Rabbi David Rosen, the American Jewish Committee's international director of interreligious affairs on Thursday became the first Israeli citizen, the first Orthodox rabbi and the fifth living Jew to be invested with a papal knighthood.

Rosen received the decoration and citation attesting to his new status as a Knight Commander of the Pontifical Order of St Gregory the Great at a ceremony hosted at the Notre Dame of Jerusalem Center by the Apostolic Delegate in Jerusalem and Palestine and the Apostolic Nuncio in Israel Archbishop Pietro Sambi.

The investiture was conducted by Cardinal Walter Kasper, President of the Holy See's Commission for Religious Relations with Jewry. The ceremony coincided with the 40th anniversary celebrations in Israel of Nostra Aetate, the ground-breaking Vatican II document that paved the way for mutual respect and dialogue between the Catholic Church and the Jews.

Kasper credited Rosen with being a moving force in the realization and implementation of the spirit of Nostra Aetate.

Noting that Rosen is active in many fields, Kasper who has known him and worked with him for several years said: "One meets him everywhere that this dialogue is going on - and he keeps the dialogue going on."

He first met Rosen, Kasper recalled, as a Jewish partner in dialogue. He found Rosen to be frank, free and outspoken, saying what pleased him about the Christians and also what didn't please him.

Kasper characterized Rosen as "a fair partner who wants to understand Christianity" and struggles to overcome misunderstandings and slander. He described Rosen as a man of peace and dialogue who builds bridges.

One of the most positive developments of the last half century said Kasper is that Jews and Christians have found a way to gather. "It is a sign of hope and reconciliation, friendship and mutual understanding."

Please read the rest of the article. I am very confused and do not know what to think of this... can somebody explain to me how is it possible for a non-christian to be a Knight of a Christian Order???? All your thoughts are greatly appreciated.

God bless

Ba shana haba bi-Yerushalayim!

Next year in Jerusalem!

and Mazel Tov!


Alex

Dear Bernardo:

I think that you are confused by the difference between Christian orders (with semi-monastic rules) and honorific orders.

Without consulting the history of the Order of Saint Gregory the Great, I believe that the order holds no specific religious requirement.

There are other orders such as the Sovereign Order of Saint John (Malta) and the Order of the Holy Sepulcher that are exclusive to people holding the Catholic faith.

defreitas

This papal award is for meritorious service to the Church, which is coursed through the Apostolic Nuncio of any given country.

It does not require that you are a Catholic or even a Christian.

This is awarded to civilians as well as to those in the military.

Amado

Dear Amado,

I remember the author of "The Last Three Popes and the Jews" - he defended the name of Pope Piux XII as a benefactor of the Jewish people - Pinchas Lapide.

He wrote that that Pope saved 840,000 Jews during the Holocaust and deserves to have that number of trees planted in his honour at Yad Veshem.

He later became an Orthodox Rabbi.

I think he was deserving of a papal knighthood too.

Alex

He should be deserving, also!

But there has to be someone in the Vatican or some other Catholic bishop who vouches for the award.

In the case of Rabbi David Rosen, Cardinal Kasper was the "point" man!

Amado

Thank you all for your thoughts and information, one alway learns something new in our Forum. One question... how can we request Alex's appointment as a Papal Knight??

God bless

Dear Friends,

Well . . .?

Can anyone answer Bernardo's question?

Alex

You'd have to be a bishop. A bishop can submit names and request honors for his subjects from the Pope of Rome (well, the curia office responsible for such honors).

Did I mention money? I think money is involved.

Nick

While we're at it, a mere knighthood? I think the Pope has given dukedoms, baronies, counthoods (or whatever) to worthy ones.

Duke Alex.... has a kind of 'ring' to it, don't you think?

If only His Eminence could as well speak frankly about what not only pleases but displeases him about the Jews.

Somehow I doubt that's going to happen. :rolleyes:

Logos Teen

Perhaps the Cardinal did?

I remember Rabbi Rosen well, when I was living in the UK (a past life, perhaps?) He was very open, brilliant, and never backed away from a difficult issue.

the unworthy,
Elias

Dear Friends,

I remember hearing one British Rabbi (who, early in his life, was thinking about becoming a Christian).

He stood by a crucifix and said,"The Church was always at its best in history whenever it stood closest to the Cross."

I thought that was most inspiring . . .

Alex

I think the only person who can go in front of a bishop in a procession in church is a papal knight.