Rome's chief rabbi slams Pope Francis' criticism of Israel

Rome's chief Jewish rabbi on Thursday sharply criticised Pope Francis over the pontiff's recent ramping up of criticism against Israel's military campaign in Gaza, in an unusually forceful speech during an annual Catholic-Jewish dialogue event.

Francis, the rabbi said, has unfairly focused his attention on Israel compared to other ongoing world conflicts, including those in Sudan, Yemen, Syria, and Ethiopia.

Rabbi Riccardo Di Segni has been the spiritual leader of Rome's Jewish community since 2001.

"Selective indignation … weakens the pope's strength," said Di Segni. 

"A pope cannot divide the world into children and stepchildren and must denounce the sufferings of all," he said. "This is exactly what the Pope does not do."

Reporting by Reuters