Pope Francis Coauthor Speaks at University’s Judaic Studies Lecture (Photos + Video)

The University of Scranton hosted Rabbi Abraham Skorka, Ph.D., a globally recognized scholar, author and longtime collaborator of Pope Francis, at its recent Judaic Studies Institute Lecture.

Dr. Skorka's lecture, titled "The Pope and the Rabbi: My Story of Friendship and Dialogue with Pope Francis," took place Tuesday, May 12, at the Pearn Auditorium inside Brennan Hall. It was free and open to the public.

A native of Buenos Aires, Argentina, Dr. Skorka highlighted his decades-long relationship with Pope Francis, a fellow Argentine. Dr. Skorka and Pope Francis' friendship began in the second half of the 1990s and evolved through ongoing dialogue grounded in mutual respect and intellectual exchange. They collaborated on the 2013 book "On Heaven and Earth," which explored topics including faith, family and the role of the Church in the modern world.

The Weinberg Judaic Studies Institute was created at Scranton in 1979 through an endowment funded by the local Jewish community. The lecture is one of the program's annual highlights. Marc B. Shapiro, Ph.D., professor and chair of theology and religious studies at The University of Scranton, serves as its chair.