This question was already asked, by me, a few months ago. Link:
forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=774632 (hope it works). I didn’t reference Pope Francis specifically, but as Matt said, he’s not saying anything new. Check out the discussion over there, where I ask some pointed and specific questions about church doctrine. In reference to the poster who asked why the church today regards Jews as special when they (supposedly) ceased to be Israelites through their rejection of Jesus: I have been told, although I do not know a source for this, that historically the Church has officially considered Jews to have a special status as the nation that Jesus came from, even though they did not accept him. That is one reason why Popes historically extended protection to the Jews.
The Pope is not saying anything
relatively new, as can be seen by reading the Catechism produced under Pope John Paul II. But it
is new information based on Vatican II and what has been learned since.
Catholics
do not teach that the Jews “ceased to be Israelites through their rejection of Jesus.” Some may have had such views before Vatican II, and before Pope John Paul II made strides to begin correcting the Church’s view of the Jews, but this is not the case at present.
The problem may be that some Catholics–like anyone else–would prefer a very definitive answer. The truth of the matter is that the Church is in flux about the issue, and it may be realizing the fulfillment of a prophecy made by Jesus, namely that:
Jerusalem will be trampled underfoot by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.–Luke 21:24.
St. Paul also wrote under inspiration:
A hardening has come upon Israel in part, until the full number of the Gentiles comes in, and thus [which can also be rendered “and then”] all Israel will be saved.–Romans 11:25-26.
Both Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI have openly considered that since the time that Jerusalem has come back into the hands of the Jews (and since the traditional nations of Christendom have now become mostly secular), that we could be living at or near this prophesied era.
While nothing definitive has yet been expressly written as dogma, the Pontifical Biblical Commission recently published
“The Jewish People and Their Sacred Scriptures in the Christian Bible.” In it there is a dramatic confession at its conclusion that reads:
In the past, the break between the Jewish people and the Church of Christ Jesus could sometimes, in certain times and places, give the impression of being complete. In the light of the Scriptures, this should never have occurred. For a complete break between Church and Synagogue contradicts Sacred Scripture.
Unfortunately as demonstrated here on this forum and in the general public, much of this information is rarely read in full let alone studied (which is actually required for a person to completely comprehend the issues mentioned) by the public, sadly even by Catholics. Too many Catholics are unaware that this document released by the Holy See even exists.
Therefore there is surprise and even shock when Pope Francis makes statements about the Jews. This shouldn’t happen, but we live in a world where there are great demands on our time and people seemed to be more concerned with learning how to master their smart devices than use them to master the teachings of their faith. We are all to blame for not being able to use Bibles or the Catechism the way we should.
In conclusion the Church does not teach that God has rejected his people Israel. It teaches that Catholicism has a direct connection to it, so much so that any attempt to destroy or deny this election by God is tantamount to destroying and denying the Catholic faith. Some of this will be news to people, and some will not accept it. But it is the position of the Church, and we owe it to be up to date on all matters of the Magisterium’s official position lest we fail by giving faulty testimony to the Gospel.
