Pope Francis received this Friday June 24 at Chief Rabbi Isaac Sacca of Argentina in a private audience in which the Holy Father insisted on “not be silent in the face of the silent tragedy” of child sexual abuse. During the meeting, the Rabbi presented Pope Francis with two important foundations, one of which is dedicated to combating the sexual exploitation of children.

Rabbi Sacca is founder and president of Menora, World Organization for Youth, an institution dedicated to training young people in Judaism. The projects promoted by the organization aspire to work for a fairer world.

The Pope and the Rabbi have known each other for many years and their dialogue was fluid and stable over the years. Both held meetings in Argentina and in the Vatican on several occasions.

Within the framework of the private audience, the Rabbi presented Pope Francis two important foundations:

• The Liberty Institute: was born in 2016 at the initiative of the Brazilian philanthropist Elie Horn, close friend of the Great Rabbi Sacca. The institution specializes in combat the sexual exploitation of children and adolescents in Brazil, as well as making a constant contribution to Jewish education and culture. To support these projects, Horn decided some years ago increase the percentage of your donations to 60% of your assets for humanitarian causes.

Raphael Horn, son of Elie Horn and director of the Cyrela company, founded by his father, the director of the Liberta Institute, Luciana Temer, daughter of the former president of Brazil, and Lyvia Nascimento, victim of child abuse and current activist and awareness generator against the exploitation of minors, accompanied and explained details of the Institute to Pope Francis.

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• The other philanthropic organization is the Leticia and Eduardo Azar Foundation, corresponding to two Argentines who dedicate a large part of their income to good works. The foundation deals with multiple projects, among which stands out assistance in housing, promotion of work and health in Africa, Latin America, Central America and Europe. Eduardo Azar, on behalf of the foundation that he chairs with his wife Leticia, provided the Pope with the programs developed by the foundation.

More meeting details

The meeting took place in the Private Library of the Palazzo Apostolico. It began with an intimate meeting between the Holy Father and the Chief Rabbi, after which Sacca’s guests joined. At that time, the presentation of the aforementioned foundations was made.

Pope Francis spoke with each of the guests with great interest and valued the activity carried out by these organizations of private initiative.

Likewise, he exhorted the visitors to continue speaking and creating awareness in society about the problems addressed. And placed a lot of emphasis not be silent in the face of the silent tragedy of child sexual abuse.

The Holy Father thanked Rabbi Sacca for his visit, as well as his initiative to mobilize society through good deeds. After presenting a papal distinction to each guest, he again expressed his support and blessed those present.