Pope Visits Rome Synagogue, Calls on Catholics to Unify

Pope Francis made his first trip to a Rome Synagogue on Sunday, where he expressed his firm stand against religious violence and exhorted the Catholic people to come together. His speech was made in the presence of Rome Jewish community leaders, Religious Services Minister David Azoulay, and Israeli representatives.

Pope Francis is the third Pope to visit Rome's main synagogue, following the footsteps of popes John Paul and Benedict.

In front of more than 1,500 members of the Roman and Italian Jewish communities, Pope Francis spoke about the Shoah, wherein six millions Jews died during World War II and the deportation of more than 1,000 men, women, and children in 1943 at the area where the current synagogue is erected.

The Pope expressed that violence in any religion should not be tolerated, calling the violence between men is in "contradiction with every religion worthy of that name, including with the three great monotheistic religions."

The head of the Vatican also stated that "God is the God of life", and expressed his wish to always to promote and defend life. "We—created in His image and likeness—are held to do the same," the Pope said.

Pope Francis also reminded the congregants that every human is a creature of God, and are are all "brothers" regardless of whichever religion each individual may believe in.

"Each person must be viewed with favor, just as God does, who offers his merciful hand to all, regardless of their faith and of their belonging, and who cares for those who most need him: the poor, the sick, the marginalized."