The former general secretary of the World Jewish Council, Dr. Gerhart M. Riegner, a pioneer in Christian-Jewish Relations, died December 4, 2001, in Geneva at the age of 90.

On August 8, 1942, Dr. Riegner learned from a German industrialist who was in touch with the Nazi leaders, of a plan to transfer all the Jews of Europe to concentration camps where they were to be systematically annihilated. He sent what became known as the "Riegner telegram" to the British Foreign Office and the U.S. State Department warning that these atrocities were to begin and in doing so, he risked his life. His message went unheeded. He spent much of his life working for reconciliation and dialogue between Christians and Jews.

In addition to being the former secretary-general of the World Jewish Council in Geneva (1965-1983), Dr. Riegner was also one of the six honorary presidents of the International Council of Christians and Jews, and the founder of the International Jewish Committee for Interreligious Consultations.

Cardinal William Keeler, Archbishop of Baltimore, is the leading advocate of Catholic-Jewish dialogue for the United States Catholic bishops. He said during a two-day conference of scholars gathered to discuss the topic of “Covenant” at Sacred Heart University [See page XX for full story], “He was a man of absolute integrity. In 1942, at great personal risk, he contacted world leaders to tell them of the Holocaust that was entering its horrific final stages. And in 1987, he championed the positive relations between the Catholic Church and the Jewish people.”

“I think Gerhart Riegner was one of the witnesses of our time who played an outstanding role in the relations between Christians and Jews,” said Cardinal Walter Kasper. The German cardinal is president of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, and of the Holy See's Commission for Religious Relations with the Jews. “With his experiences in World War II, he worked for mutual understanding and improving the Church's relationship with Jews. We have lost one of the most important and competent partners in Jewish-Christian dialogue. We will keep him in good memory.”

“This was a man with character and conviction,” said Rabbi Joseph H. Ehrenkranz, executive director of the Center for Christian-Jewish Understanding of Sacred Heart University. “When many others remained silent, he risked everything to save the Jewish people. And his efforts did not stop there. Later in his life, he actively worked to have the 1975 United Nations General Assembly vote annulled that said Zionism equaled racism, which it was in 1991.”