This is an unofficial translation of a portion of an interview with Archbishop Kurt Koch, newly appointed president of the Pontifical Commission for Religious Relations with the Jews, in the French paper Le Temps on July 17, 2010.
Le Temps - There was the case of [Priestly Society of St. Pius X Bishop] Williamson, the restoration of prayer for the conversion of Jews on Good Friday and finally the announcement that Pius XII was venerable. Is the Jewish community still as inclined to dialogue after this series of problems?
Koch - Jews were the first to congratulate me on my appointment. They have shown great interest in continuing the dialogue. I also recall that a month after the Williamson affair, the issue was settled between Rome and the representatives of Judaism. This shows that the relations are deep. And I would add that the new Good Friday prayer is an eschatological prayer and not a call to a mission to Jews.