A double Happy Easter greeting, just before the Jewish Easter: one in the context of the meeting with the delegates of the other religions in Washington, the other in the synagogue of New York closest to the Pope’s residence. These are the two highlights that the Pope will devote to the Jews during his forthcoming journey to the USA. It was illustrated to the press today, by father Federico Lombardi, director of the Newsroom of the Holy See, who called them "a certain proof of the Pope’s care for our elderly brothers". In the afternoon of 17th April, the Pope will meet the delegates of other religions at the John Paul II Culture Club in Washington, a meeting which will be attended as told by the Vatican spokesman by 200 delegates of five different religions. "Since the Jewish Easter will be near explained father Lombardi , after the meeting with the leaders of the five religions, the Pope will shortly meet the delegates of Hebraism to give them a simple message of Easter wishes, which applies to all Jews and will therefore have universal value". In the afternoon of the day after, April 18th, at 5.10 pm, the Pope will go to the synagogue 500 metres from Benedict XVI’s residence "to give one more greeting to the Jews just before their great feast, giving them time to go back home before the beginning of Shabbat".” “
