Rome Mission with UJA FED of NY: Papal Audience

The President of the UJA FED of NY, Alisa Doctoroff, along with 20 leaders of the federation participated in Wednesday’s Papal Audience as special guests of the Vatican’s Secretary of State. Alisa Doctoroff spoke to Pope Francis of the strong collaboration with Catholic Charities in New York on behalf of the poor – a central concern of both the Jewish and Catholic communities. Pope Francis spoke of the lasting importance of charity in his remarks to the audience in St. Peter’s Square. Pope Francis spent considerable time walking among those gathered – especially those in wheelchairs and their families. The amount of time he spent personally greeting individuals attending the audience far exceeded the time of his formal remarks. The diversity of those at the Papal audience and the use of multiple languages demonstrated the “Catholic” or universal aspect of the Catholic Church.