Nostra Aetate at 60: Continuing the interfaith mission of accompaniment

By Cristina Cabrera Jarro -

Photography: CRISTINA CABRERA JARRO | FC

MIAMI GARDENS| For Rabbi Mario Rojzman, senior rabbi of Beth Torah Benny Rok Campus in Miami, Nostra Aetate was not only a theological declaration but “an earthquake of the spirit.”

“It said for the first time in history that the Jewish people are not rejected, not cursed, not replaced, but eternally loved by God. It rejected the teaching of contempt and opened the possibility of friendship,” Rabbi Rojzman told attendees of an event to commemorate the 60th anniversary of Nostra Aetate, held at St. Thomas University (STU) in Miami Gardens.

More than 200 people of Jewish and Catholic faith attended the Oct. 20, 2025 event, sharing an evening of dialogue, reflection and prayer. The gathering was organized by STU, its School of Theology and Ministry, and its Interfaith Leadership Institute, together with the Archdiocese of Miami and the American Jewish Committee (AJC), in collaboration with the Jewish Federation of Greater Miami.

Also in attendance were Cardinal Christophe Pierre, Apostolic Nuncio to the U.S.; Archbishop Thomas Wenski; community leaders; and representatives from Religion for the Common Good, a Catholic-Jewish young adult initiative between the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) and the AJC.

Nostra Aetate, or the “Declaration on the Relationship of the Church to Non-Christian Religions,” was promulgated by the Second Vatican Council on Oct. 28, 1965. The brief document (the English translation has 1,700 words) focuses on improving Catholic relations with non-Christian religions, including Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam and Judaism.

Much of the document centers on Catholic-Jewish relations. Just 20 years after the Holocaust, Nostra Aetate signaled a major shift in the Church’s outlook, sparking efforts to replace centuries of hostility and contempt with genuine dialogue and respect.

During his presentation, Rabbi Rojzman asked one of the most important questions of the evening:

“Did you have a ‘Nostra Aetate moment’ in your life?”

He described it as a sacred, transformative moment when we move beyond differences and recognize the divine in others who believe or live differently.

“It’s about discovering that faith becomes deeper, truer when it opens to the faith of another. It’s the moment you realize that to remain fully yourself, you don’t need the other to disappear… You allow him to exist,” Rabbi Rojzman said.

He believes that Nostra Aetate thrived because it was lived out. For Rabbi Rojzman it was embodied in a profound friendship with Argentine Bishop Justo Laguna, whom he described as a humble and holy man “who understood that truth is not a competition.”

“Watching him live his faith in the shadow of the cross, I discovered a new respect for the Catholic faith. Through him, I understood that holiness is not the absence of struggle. It’s the courage to love, even when history has given us every reason to fear,” said Rabbi Rojzman.

Together, they spoke at Jewish and Catholic schools and events, coauthored “All Roads Lead to Jerusalem…and also to Rome,” and cohosted a TV show. Bishop Laguna also introduced Rabbi Rojzman to St. Pope John Paul II, Pope Benedict XVI and Pope Francis.

In a way, they exemplified the renewed relationship Nostra Aetate called for, one of curiosity, friendship and genuine connection.

The friendship between the rabbi and the bishop was so deep that, when Bishop Laguna passed away in Nov. 2011, he left his stole and zucchetto to Rabbi Rojzman.

“He entrusted them to me. Without Nostra Aetate, this would not have happened. Without the courage of that extraordinary Catholic, this moment would not exist,” Rabbi Rojzman said.

Rabbi Rojzman reminded attendees that the mission of accompaniment must continue, especially in difficult times.

“Hatred and religious intolerance are still around. Antisemitism is growing in shocking ways, and old prejudice sometimes appears in new forms. Catholics are being slaughtered as we speak in the Middle East. That’s why this partnership isn’t just decoration. It’s essential. The world needs to see Jews and Catholics standing together,” he said.

PEACE IS A DIVINE PROMISE

Cardinal Pierre commended the interfaith efforts of South Florida’s Jewish and Catholic communities.

“We continue to move from dialogue to genuine encounter, from encounter to shared responsibility, and from shared responsibility to joint witness in the world,” he said.

The commitment to mutual respect and peace between faiths, however, is being tested.

On behalf of the Holy Father, Cardinal Pierre reaffirmed, “the Church’s condemnation of antisemitism in all its forms. Prejudice and hatred have no place in the human family. The Catholic Church stands in solidarity with our Jewish brothers and sisters in rejecting those evils and in working for societies where dignity and security are assured for all.”

The cardinal spoke about the war in Gaza and the recent peace agreement. He said that Pope Leo XIV has reminded the international community that in the pursuit of justice, human dignity must remain humane.

“Every human life, Israeli and Palestinian alike, is precious in the eyes of God,” said Cardinal Pierre.

The road ahead will not be easy, he added, but it is an opportunity to renew dialogue, end violence and establish just and lasting peace between the countries.

“This hope resonates deeply with the vision we shared, rooted in scripture, the day foretold by Isaiah when one nation shall not raise the sword against another, nor shall they train for war again (Isaiah 2:4),” said Cardinal Pierre.

Peace, he said, is a divine promise that calls Jews and Christians to work together with faith.

 

CARRY FORWARD THE LEGACY OF NOSTRA AETATE TOGETHER

At the 60th anniversary celebration of Nostra Aetate at STU, representatives of the Religion for the Common Good Initiative—co-founded by Brian Hertz of the AJC, and Rebecca Cohen of the USCCB—spoke about their program. Through virtual cohorts hosted via Zoom, more than 50 young adults in their 20s and 30s have connected nationwide to discuss sacred texts, share personal experiences of faith and explore the unifying power of religion.

Religion for the Common Good “started because of Nostra Aetate. It’s about keeping that message of unity and dialogue alive,” said Hertz.

He described having a “Nostra Aetate moment” during an international interreligious program that inspired him to bring similar opportunities to the U.S.

For Cohen, who had also participated in interfaith leadership programs, the goal was clear: “If we could get something on a national level, we could impact the lives of Jews and Catholics across the United States.”

Religion for the Common Good’s early planning coincided with the Oct. 2023 outbreak of war between Israel and Hamas, a time both founders recalled as deeply painful and isolating. Yet, through virtual dialogue, participants found connection and hope.

“We began to build relationships among young people across the U.S., even in a time of fear and division,” Cohen said.

Among those young leaders are Rabbi Lila Chertman of Miami and Jessica Gallegos of Pocatello, Idaho. Both participated in the Religion for the Common Good cohorts and shared how interfaith friendship deepened their own religious identity.

“To be strong in your faith, you don’t have to think another faith is wrong. We can become stronger in our own faith when we meet others who are strong in theirs,” said Chertman. Her first AJC event coincided with the 50th anniversary of Nostra Aetate at STU.

Gallegos, a Catholic educator, described how the experience helped her encourage her students to seek dialogue with peers outside of their own faith.

“We’re supposed to do this. We want to learn more and support everybody around us,” she said.

As participants reflected on what it means to carry forward the spirit of Nostra Aetate, Chertman offered a simple challenge.

“It can’t just be about attending events or learning the history,” she said. “We must carry it forward, personally and together.”

• Watch the celebration of the 60th anniversary of Nostra Aetate at St. Thomas University here.