The chief rabbi of Rome, Di Segni after the election of Zuppi: “With us Jews now the dialogue will grow”
ROME – There was a period, between the end of the sixties and the early seventies, in which in the corridors of the Virgilio classical high school, in via Giulia, a group of Roman boys met their eyes destined to make their way in life. From Francesco De Gregori to the late David Sassoli, president of the European Parliament, from the founder of the community of Sant’Egidio, Andrea Riccardi, to the new president of the CEI, “don Matteo” Zuppi. In those classrooms it also grows and forms Riccardo Di Segnifor over twenty years he has been chief rabbi of the Jewish community of Rome.
The head of the Italian Church and the head of the Jewish Roman community, both always at the forefront of interreligious dialogue, who grew up in the same high school in the same years. A surprising coincidence, but did you date as kids?
“In fact, the circumstance is striking even if, in truth, I was older than him: I graduated in ’67 and I was also a year ahead. Do you want to know another one? My classmate at the high school was Pio Cerocchi , who would become director of the People … I don’t remember, however, having frequented Don Matteo at the time, but I do remember Andrea Riccardi, who later founded Sant’Egidio. Even today we play on this team concept … “.
With Zuppi, on the other hand, did you find yourself as adults?
“Yes, of course, there have been many occasions and many encounters, also because I have always had intense and cordial relations with the community of Sant’Egidio, of which Zuppi was one of the pillars. I remember a funny episode in particular. Once, with a rabbinic delegation, we were received by the Pope at the Vatican. At the end of the audience, Don Matteo arrived, summoned for an interview after us. He was so strange in that and, as soon as we met our eyes, a spontaneous smile appeared question on both faces. Our traditional expression is the same thought: what are you doing here? “.
You welcomed two popes in the temple of Rome, Benedict XVI and Francis. What will the dialogue with you Jews be like with Zuppi?
“We have consolidated relations and official channels with the Italian Bishops’ Conference, there are designated places where common problems are discussed. I mean by this that the road is already open, but perhaps with Zuppi this road now becomes wider and perhaps the difficulties that sometimes arise can be easily resolved. Even with the rabbi of Bologna in recent years, relations with the cardinal have been more direct than official “.
Is it easier to talk to Zuppi?
“The Church-Institution has its rules, we with Sant’Egidio have another type of communication, there is also a relationship of friendship. But let’s stop here, I wouldn’t want to ruin his curriculum!”.
Many observers expect a reversed respect to the past. Not so much in the presidency with respect to Cardinal Bassetti, as in the long run it belonged to Ruini and Bagnasco. Do you think there will be differences?
“I do not allow myself to judge in someone else’s house, as an observer I can have a partial and perhaps even distorted external vision. From a cultural point of view it is clear that Zuppi’s type of approach is different. He is a street priest, a religious who lives next to people. You have seen the media impact of the appointment, the atmosphere that already surrounds him … “.
The theologian Vito Mancuso wrote that the world in which it seems to belong more to the devil than to God, there is less and less room for religious sentiment. In this time, what can be the common contribution of two religious like you?
“There is an obligation to witness to values that are reflected in the coherence and in the personal example, the idea of a religion lived not as a coercion. In general, a different vision of reality, in the sign of help and support to the other, not of power “.
And as Jews, what do you expect from the Church of Zuppi and what do you ask?
“We ask Cardinal Zuppi the same things we asked of his predecessors: a joint educational and formative effort, a commitment to the fight on the problems against intolerance, the presentation of Judaism in a friendly manner. There will be time to discuss this, in the meantime the I send my most sincere wishes “.