Zagreb (IKA) – The Jewish people shall remember John Paul II as a person who courageously rose up against the historical injustices inflicted upon the Jewish people. He officially and publicly eliminated ancient prejudices and accusations against the Jews and Judaism, which was well received among Churches and Christian believers, stated the president of the Coordination of Jewish Communities in Croatia, Dr. Ognjen Kraus, and the Chief Rabbi of Croatia, Kotel Da Don, in a telegram of condolences sent on the occasion of the death of Pope John Paul II to the president of the Croatian Conference of Bishops, Cardinal Josip Bozanić. They also pointed out that the Pope promoted and encouraged profound and fruitful dialogue between Christianity and Judaism, between the state of Israel and the Vatican, and inaugurated diplomatic relations between the Vatican and Israel.

He was the first Pope who historically and courageously visited Israel. His visit to the holiest site in Judaism, the Wailing Wall in Jerusalem, was unforgettable. He was the first pope who entered a synagogue and the first to invite the Chief Rabbi of Israel to discuss the growth of anti-Semitism in the world. He expressed great friendship with the Jewish people, as well as revulsion toward anti-Semitism. There is testimony to his rescuing Jews during the Holocaust of World War II. His kneeling before the victims of Auschwitz shall remain in our hearts, emphasized Dr. Kraus and Rabbi Da Don.