Pope's close Jewish friend buried in Rome

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Pope's close Jewish friend buried in Rome: Jerzy Kluger taught John Paul II of Judaism, both Polish

Polish Holocaust survivor Jerzy Kluger, a lifetime friend of the late Pope John Paul II, died in Rome on New Year's Eve. Kluger was a classmate of Pope John Paul and taught him a lot about Judaism. The two lost contact when World War Two broke out but were finally reunited in 1965. Kluger was present in Rome's synagogue in 1986 when Pope John Paul made his historic visit, during which he called Jews "our beloved elder brothers." Their friendship is regarded as a major influence on Catholic-Jewish relations. Jerzy Kluger's burial was in Rome's Jewish cemetery.