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Pope Francis on Monday condemned a "worrying" resurgence of anti-Semitism in Europe and urged the continuation of dialogue between Christians and Jews, AFP reports.
Speaking during a meeting with the Conference of the European Rabbis (CER), a first since the organisation was founded in 1956, the pope called on all Christians to stand firm against anti-Semitism.
"The anti-Semitic tendencies and certain acts of hatred and violence in Europe are of concern. Every Christian cannot but be firm in the condemnation of all forms of anti-Semitism," he said.
He urged the two faiths to continue the dialogue that had progressed "systematically for almost half a century".
Pope Francis has made interfaith dialogue a cornerstone of his papacy and has spoken out against anti-Semitism in the past.
Monday's comments come comes after a spate of anti-Semitic attacks in Europe.
In January, four Jews were killed in a series of Islamist attacks in Paris and the following month a Jewish man was killed outside a synagogue in twin shootings in Copenhagen.
Moscow's Chief Rabbi Pinchas Goldschmidt, who is also president of CER, said Jews in Europe were the "collateral damage" of an anti-Muslim offensive orchestrated by the extreme right.
The CER is one of the leading voices of Judaism in Europe and brings together more than 700 Jewish religious leaders.
