During his first pastoral visit to Rome, Metropolitan Polykarpos of Italy also met with the Chief Rabbi of the most important Jewish community in the Diaspora, Dott. Riccardo Di Segni in his office.
During their brief meeting, they exchanged views on the worrying phenomena of racism, xenophobia, and anti-Semitism and expressed their willingness to co-operate on these issues.
The Metropolitan of Italy referred to the important role played by the Orthodox Church, especially in Greece, in rescuing Israelis during the German occupation and the Holocaust.