The Holy See has announced the appointment of Archbishop Bernard Longley of Birmingham as a consultor to the Commission for Religious Relations with the Jews, part of the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity.
The decision was published in the Vatican’s bulletin of resignations and appointments on 30 September. The Commission was established in 1974 in the wake of the Second Vatican Council to oversee Catholic dialogue with Judaism. It is charged with ensuring that theological and pastoral work is carried out in the spirit of Nostra aetate, the Council’s declaration on relations with non-Christian religions.
The Commission is headed by Cardinal Kurt Koch as president, with Bishop Brian Farrell L.C. as vice-president, and Salesian Fr Norbert Hofmann as secretary.
Archbishop Longley has led the Archdiocese of Birmingham since 2009, and earlier this year was appointed by Pope Leo XIV as a member of both the Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue and the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity. His new appointment further extends his responsibilities in Rome, particularly in the field of interreligious relations.
The Commission for Religious Relations with the Jews has over the decades issued a number of key texts that have guided Catholic understanding of Judaism. These include the 1974 Guidelines and Suggestions for Implementing the Conciliar Declaration Nostra aetate No. 4, the 1985 Notes on the Correct Way to Present Jews and Judaism in Preaching and Teaching in the Roman Catholic Church, and the 2015 document The Gifts and the Calling of God Are Irrevocable, published to mark the 50th anniversary of Nostra aetate.
This comes as the Holy Father also appointed as consultors Archbishop Eduardo Eliseo Martín of Rosario in Argentina; Bishop Rafic Nahra, Auxiliary Bishop and Patriarchal Vicar of Jerusalem for the Latins; and Dr Natascia Danieli, Director of the Linguistic Area Library at Ca’ Foscari University in Venice.
The work of the Commission has been central to the transformation of Catholic–Jewish relations in the years following the Second Vatican Council. It has provided theological and pastoral guidance to ensure that Jews and Judaism are presented with respect and understanding in Catholic teaching, while also encouraging dialogue at both local and international levels. Its role is mirrored by the Commission for Religious Relations with Muslims, which operates under the Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue.
Archbishop Longley’s appointment confirms the prominence of British leadership within the Vatican. It also affirms the enduring importance placed by the Church on maintaining and deepening its relations with the Jewish people—a commitment rooted in the teaching of the Second Vatican Council.
According to community figures, Birmingham has a Jewish population of around 3,000. While the number is relatively small, it is one of the largest Jewish communities outside London, which is home to around 150,000 Jews. The city has a number of synagogues and communal organisations, making Archbishop Longley’s appointment particularly relevant in both a local and international context.
Photo credit: Diocese of Birmingham
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
