February 6, 2025 – Students from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem met Pope Francis on February 5th along with other Jewish, Muslim, and Christian students as part of the Vatican-hosted event co-organized by Middle Meets, “Meaning Meets Us.”

Middle Meets facilitates proactive, student-led dialogues between Jewish and Palestinian university students. Established in response to the October 7th attacks, students at Hebrew University sought to foster spaces for mutual listening and constructive conversation—an effort that has since evolved into a transformative model for interfaith dialogue.

The overarching goal of Middle Meets is to cultivate a sustainable framework for navigating complex conversations. The initiative is committed to tackling challenging topics—including antisemitism, anti-Islamism, Judeo-centrism, and Palestinian-centrism—while fostering a climate of informed and compassionate discourse.

As a student-driven initiative, Middle Meets seeks to create lasting principles for interfaith and intercultural engagement, challenging hate speech across the political spectrum and promoting constructive dialogue both online and in person.

Middle Meets is spearheaded by Professor Elitzur Bar-Asher Siegal under the auspices of Hebrew University’s Faculty of Humanities, along with a diverse student leadership team, including Jewish and Palestinian students from Hebrew University and Tel Aviv University, Scholas Occurrentes, the University of Meaning founded by Pope Francis, and the University of Notre Dame.

Held at the Vatican and various sites across Rome, the group engaged in interactive educational and artistic activities designed by Scholas alongside specialized sessions led by Middle Meets.

The highlight of the week was meeting Pope Francis on February 5th, when the young participants presented the insights and conclusions they developed throughout the gathering, offering their perspectives on fostering mutual understanding in divided societies.

“While academia today struggles to find the balance between freedom of expression and respectful dialogue, between silencing and protecting rights, this project seeks to remind us that academia should be a space for honest, analytical discourse grounded in knowledge,” says Prof. Elitzur Bar-Asher Siegal. “Through the collaboration between Scholas and Middle Meets, we combine methods of intellect and emotion to foster genuine and courageous dialogue. When this happens amidst a conflict between nations at war, it offers hope for a better future.”

“This encounter is not just an event; it is proof that interfaith dialogue is both possible and necessary. It is an invitation for the world to see that young people can lead change through encounter and listening. It is particularly meaningful to hold this gathering in Rome during the Jubilee Year, where forgiveness and hope take center stage,” said José María del Corral, President of Scholas Occurrentes.

When pain and fear dominate, we choose dialogue. Especially after October 7th, I realized how vital it is to listen, to share, and to see the humanity in the other side. It’s not easy, but it’s the first step toward true healing and shared hope,” said Khitam Bader, a Facilitator of Interfaith and Interethnic Dialogue Groups, who leads the emotional component of Middle Meets activity.