Pope offers Jews New Year’s greeting

At the conclusion of the Angelus, Pope Francis extended a New Year's greeting as Jews prepare for Rosh Hashanah.

Pope Francis sent his greetings on the occasion of the Jewish New Year to all his “Jewish brothers and sisters” after the Angelus prayer on September 5, 2021. He also expressed the wish that the new year be “Rich in fruits of peace and good for those who walk faithfully in the Law of the Lord.”

This reference to the “Law” resonates as a signal of appeasement after the small controversies that had aroused some of his remarks recently. In one of his teachings on a letter from Saint Paul during a general audience, Pope Francis said that Jewish Law does not give life. Israeli rabbis said they were troubled by his words.

The holiday of Rosh Hashanah is celebrated this year on September 6, “the ringing day” which marks the beginning of the Hebrew Year. It is followed on September 15 by the feast of Yom Kippur, “the Day of Atonement,” and finally by that of Sukkot on September 20, “Feast of Tabernacles” which recalls the passage of the Jewish people in the desert.