WJC said its “Kishreinu” initiative was a response to Nostra Aetate, the landmark 1965 document that modernized the relationship between the Roman Catholic Church, Judaism and other religions.
Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa made his comment in response to a question during a video conference with journalists in Italy.
Proponents have welcomed the consultations as an opportunity to change the Church's power dynamics and give a greater voice to lay Catholics, including women, and marginalized groups.
The appointment of Archbishop Pizzaballa as a cardinal underlines the Vatican's desire to play a more active role in the ongoing diplomatic discussions concerning Jerusalem.
The beatification service for Jozef and Wiktoria Ulma and their seven children was held in the southeastern Polish town of Markowa where they died in March 1944 at the hands of German military police.
The researchers were careful to note that the scholarly understanding of the role of the Catholic world in the actions taken by Germany’s Nazi regime is unchanged.
The bishops' statement said they told the pope that certain statements and gestures of "the Holy See and Your Holiness are painful and difficult for the Ukrainian people."
The Catholic Church prohibits non-Catholic professors from teaching “doctrinal” courses such as philosophy, liturgy, scripture, Catholic theology, and fundamental theology, at the university.
Calling nature a "sacred gift from the creator," the pope urged people to take the side of the "victims of environmental and climatic injustice."
In the 10 years since his election, Francis has been criticized by conservative sectors of the US Church who are opposed to the pope's reforms.