In February 1981, the Holy Father went on a pastoral visit to one of the Roman parishes, St. Charles ai Catinari. Since the parish is located near the Jewish ghetto, a meeting between the Pope and the chief rabbi, Elio Toaff, was organized in the sacristy. It was a very private meeting, very short, but it was also the first one. It broke the ice.
Five years later, also in February, John Paul II talked to his colleagues about a future trip to the United States. The Archbishop of Los Angeles suggested the Pope to visit the synagogue there. At this point, someone said: "Holy Father, why not to start with the diocese that belongs to Your Holiness?"
And it started with Rome. The desire that John Paul II had long carried in his heart came to reality. The contact with the other party was established – and it was done very well – by Archbishop Jorge Mejia, now a Cardinal.
With the consent of Cardinal Stanisław Dziwisz - "Testimony".
TBA marketing communication Publishing House. Warsaw 2007
