Pope to visit Rome synagogue in January as part of Catholic-Jewish dialogue

Pope to visit Rome synagogue in January

VATICAN CITY — The Vatican says Pope Benedict XVI will visit Rome’s main synagogue in January as part of Catholic-Jewish dialogue.

The announcement Tuesday gave no details of the Jan. 17 visit.

Benedict said last month he wanted to go to the synagogue to show his “personal nearness” and that of the entire church to the Jewish community.

Benedict’s predecessor, John Paul II, made a groundbreaking visit to the synagogue near the Tiber River in 1986.

Benedict has visited Jewish houses of worship during pilgrimages to Cologne, in his native Germany, and to New York.