Jean-Marie Lustiger was a historic figure in Jewish-Catholic relations, not only in France but also in the world.
Because of his background and through his initiatives, of which one of the most recent was the organisation of Jewish-Catholic meetings in New York, together with Rabbi Israel Singer, he expressed for his community of origin, from which he never felt separated, a deep affection and solidarity.
He played an eminent role, in particular together with cardinal Decourtray, in all the key moments that marked the relations between Jews and Christians in recent years, from the Auschwitz carmel to the declaration of repentance by the French episcopate in 1977 for what happened in Drancy.
Through his links with Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI, he contributed to the new approach of the Catholic Church to Judaism. In France he did much to foster truly model relations between Christians and Jews.
We pay tribute an exceptional man and we know that what he planted will continue to grow.
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