Holy See issues note marking 60 years of Nostra aetate

Three departments of the Holy See have jointly released a note titled ‘A Path of Hope’ to commemorate the 60th anniversary of ‘Nostra aetate’, the landmark declaration from the Second Vatican Council. Approved by Pope Leo XIV, the document reviews the progress made in interreligious dialogue and the Church's relationship with the Jewish people since 1965.

The note reflects on the historical importance of ‘Nostra aetate’, which rejected collective Jewish responsibility for the death of Jesus and condemned antisemitism. However, the document also acknowledges that recent conflicts in the Middle East, including the events of October 7, 2023, and the subsequent war in the Gaza Strip, have strained these relations and caused many communication bridges to falter.

Regarding religious mission, the document clarifies that while proselytism is no longer considered a meaningful way to encounter others, the Church maintains its missionary mandate. It calls for a shift from a logic of defense or conquest toward one of mutual encounter and knowledge, without requiring religions to renounce their unique identities.