In a big moment of interfaith engagement, Yad Vashem Chairman Dani Dayan met with Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican, where both leaders spoke about the need to combat antisemitism and strengthen Holocaust remembrance across our school systems and worldwide.

During the meeting, the two discussed expounding on the relationship between Yad Vashem and the Catholic Church in key areas, including education, documentation, and research surrounding the Holocaust. Dayan explained the importance of access to Vatican archives, which could deepen the understanding of the Holocaust and how it fits into Jewish history.

The Pope reaffirmed his commitment to spreading the memory of the Holocaust and condemned the rise in antisemitism, stressing the importance of continued education and awareness across Europe.

Following the meeting, Dayan described the discussion as “warm and highly constructive,” noting that both sides expressed a shared set of goals and commitments moving forward.

As part of the visit, Dayan presented the Pope with a meaningful gift, a reproduction of the artwork “Where Art Thou?” by Holocaust victim Carol Deutsch. The piece of art is part of a series of 99 pieces depicting stories and figures from the Bible, created by Deutsch in 1941 in Antwerp for his young daughter.

This specific piece was chosen as a tribute to Pope Francis, who quoted the biblical passage that inspired the title of the artwork when he spoke in Yad Vashem in 2014. A part of that speech is inscribed on the gift.

Dayan also extended an invitation for the Pope to visit Yad Vashem in Jerusalem, continuing a tradition of engagement between the Vatican and Israel’s official Holocaust memorial site. Previous popes, including Pope Francis, have made visits and have given importance to the evolving relationship between the Catholic Church and the Jewish people.