MONTREAL — The late Roman Catholic Cardinal Jean-Claude Turcotte was described in condolences issued by the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA) as a friend of the Jewish community.
Cardinal Turcotte, whose funeral was held April 17, was Archbishop of Montreal from 1990 to 2012. He died on April 8 at the age of 78.
“The Jewish community is deeply saddened by the death of Cardinal Turcotte, who for 50 years served the Catholic Church with dignity and honour,” Eric Maldoff, CIJA’s Quebec chair, said in a statement.
“Cardinal Turcotte was a friend who understood and appreciated the many contributions of the Jewish community to Quebec society. He will be missed.”
Victor Goldbloom, a longstanding representative of the Jewish community in the group Christian-Jewish Dialogue of Montreal, commented: “Cardinal Turcotte leaves a rich ecumenical legacy to all Quebecers.”
He recalled that in 1995, the archbishop celebrated at Temple Emanu-El-Beth Sholom the 40th anniversary of the promulgation of Nostra Aetate, the historic declaration of the Vatican revising its relationship with Judaism and other non-Christian religions to one of mutual respect.
On the 50th anniversary, he returned as guest speaker at Yom Kippur services.
In 1992, Cardinal Turcotte presided over a ground-breaking conference of Christian, Jewish and Muslim leaders held at the Grand Séminaire de Montréal.
Three years ago, the recently retired archbishop bestowed a papal knighthood upon Goldbloom, a rare honour to a non-Catholic, in a ceremony held at the temple, in recognition of his pioneering interfaith work.
“I know few people who stand so firm in their religious conviction, while being so open to listening to those of others,” Cardinal Turcotte said at the time. He had recommended to the Vatican this recognition of Goldbloom, a friend for more than 30 years.
Goldbloom and Myriam Azogui-Halbwax, CIJA’s associate director of community and university relations, officially represented the Jewish community at the funeral, held at Mary Queen of the World Cathedral.
