An American rabbi has voiced optimism for Catholic-Jewish relations after the election of Pope Leo XIV, saying his pontificate marks an opportunity for renewal given a spike in tensions during the last months of Pope Francis’s papacy.
His comments come during heightening tensions over the war in Gaza. On Wednesday night, 21 May, in downtown Washington, DC, two Israeli embassy staff were shot dead leaving an event at the Capital Jewish Museum.
The suspect in the shooting has been detained and identified by police as 30-year-old Elias Rodriguez, reportsthe BBC. It adds that police say he shouted "free Palestine" after being taken into custody, and officers will "look into ties to potential terrorism”.
