California:

San Francisco Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone is praying for Pope John Paul II's intercession in the wake of a rise in anti-Semitic incidents in the United States and abroad. "In the face of resurgent and horrifying anti-Semitism not only abroad but also here, I pray that the Lord protects 'our elder brothers,' as St. John Paul II named the Jewish people. St. John Paul II, pray for their protection and the protection of the innocents in Gaza as well," the archbishop said in a post on X on Wednesday, November 1.

Since the outbreak of the war between Israel and Hamas on October 7, which began after an attack in Israel by the Islamist group, there has been a significant increase in the number of anti-Semitic attacks in Western countries, including the United States. In a statement released on October 25, the US-based advocacy group Anti-Defamation League reported that it "recorded a total of 312 anti-Semitic incidents between Oct. 7-23, 2023, 190 of which were directly linked to the war in Israel and Gaza.' They also added, 'By comparison, during the same period in 2022, ADL received preliminary reports of 64 incidents, including four that were Israel-related."

During his papacy, Pope John Paul II made substantial efforts to promote dialogue and understanding between Catholics and Jews.