B’nai B’rith President Robert Spitzer and CEO Daniel S. Mariaschin have issued the following statement:

B’nai B’rith International, the world’s oldest Jewish communal and humanitarian organization and one which has directly engaged for many years with Pope Francis, extends heartfelt condolences to Catholics worldwide on the passing of the leader of Roman Catholicism.

Particularly during this season of profound religious significance to both our communities, B’nai B’rith expresses sorrow over the grief of our friends and partners throughout the church.

B’nai B’rith was privileged to be present at the installation of Francis as pontiff, and for his important visits to Israel, the United States and elsewhere. We met with him on multiple occasions in private audience at the Vatican, in addition to ongoing engagement with Catholic leaders and faithful globally. And even prior to his pontificate, B’nai B’rith ceremonies to mark the Nazi Kristallnacht pogroms were hosted by him, then-Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, as archbishop of Buenos Aires, Argentina.

B’nai B’rith’s Director of United Nations and Intercommunal Affairs David Michaels noted:

“Notwithstanding any religious or other differences between us, we will remember Pope Francis for his personal humility, his longstanding friendship with Jews and accessibility to Jewish leadership, and his decrying of enduring anti-Semitism. The Catholic-Jewish bond is singular and sacred—built in substantial part upon the Second Vatican Council document “Nostra Aetate,” whose 60th anniversary is marked this year—and we recommit ourselves to its vital preservation and strengthening into the coming era.”

We stand with our Catholic brothers and sisters at their time of loss, and pray for solace and peace for our entire world.