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Sixty years ago, Catholic-Jewish relations were transformed for the better through Nostra Aetate—the Roman Catholic Church’s revolutionary declaration stating that Jews bear no collective responsibility for Jesus’ death, affirming the Jewish roots of Christianity, and calling for genuine dialogue between the two communities.

American Jewish Committee (AJC) was there from the beginning, as a key partner in shaping this historic document.

Today, that work remains essential to Jewish safety and security around the world, and it’s why AJC is leading the Jewish community’s global commemoration of this milestone anniversary.

The Importance of Continued Dialogue – Continuing the legacy of Nostra Aetate, AJC has remained at the forefront of Catholic-Jewish dialogue. We’ve built enduring relationships with successive popes, cardinals, and other Church leaders, working to translate Nostra Aetate’s groundbreaking vision into concrete action.

 This year, on the day of his election, Pope Leo XIV invited Rabbi Noam Marans, AJC Director of Interreligious Affairs, to his Inauguration Mass and pledged to strengthen the Church’s dialogue with the Jewish people in the spirit of Nostra Aetate. The day after his inauguration, Rabbi Marans had the honor to meet Pope Leo and present to him AJC’s Translate Hate: The Catholic Edition—an initiative developed in partnership with the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops to equip Catholic leaders with necessary tools to combat antisemitism in all its modern forms.