A Catholic Leader of France Builds Ties With N.Y. Jews

The Archbishop of Paris, André Vingt-Trois, who was visiting New York City yesterday, met with members of the Jewish community as part of an effort "to develop a relationship that is trustful enough for us Catholics and Jews to talk together when we have problems to solve," the archbishop said through a translator during a tour of the Center for Jewish History in Manhattan.

The stop in New York was a late addition to a scheduled trip today to Washington, D.C., where the archbishop plans to tour the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. He is traveling with a delegation of Catholic leaders from France. In addition to strengthening the relationship between Catholics and Jews, the delegation aims to further study the Holocaust.

Arriving in New York around midday, the delegation visited the Boro Park section of Brooklyn and ate lunch with Council Member Simcha Felder of Brooklyn.

The archbishop said his trip was not connected to the pope's anticipated visit to New York this spring. But some Jewish leaders touring yesterday with the Catholic delegation said they felt it laid the groundwork for the papal visit and for future dialogue between Catholics and Jews.

Pope Benedict XVI plans to visit New York City in April, his first trip to America as pope. Before traveling to Washington, D.C., the pope is expected to stop in New York, where he plans to address the United Nations, pray at St. Patrick's Cathedral, visit ground zero, and lead Mass for 60,000 people at Yankee Stadium.