Source: Independent Catholic News

http://www.indcatholicnews.com/rab213.html

Rabbi Leon Klenicki, Director Emeritus of Interfaith Affairs of the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), has been named a Papal Knight of the Order of St Gregory by Pope Benedict, for his historic contributions in improving relations between Catholics and Jews.

Rabbi Klenicki is the second ADL interfaith official to receive papal knighthood. In 1986, the late Dr Joseph L. Lichten became the first American Jew to receive the honour when Pope John Paul II.

Rabbi Klenicki, a renowned scholar and theologian, now joins a select group of living Jews, and only a handful of rabbis, who have been so honoured by the Vatican.

"We are extremely proud that Rabbi Klenicki's decades of work to help reconcile the Catholic and Jewish faiths have been recognized by Pope Benedict XVI with this unique papal honour," said Abraham H Foxman, ADL National Director. "We can think of no one more deserving of this honour than Rabbi Leon Klenicki," who has worked tirelessly and passionately to bring about mutual understanding and respect between the two faiths."