Pope Francis Just Made New York's Rabbi Arthur Schneier A Papal Knight

This New York Rabbi Just Became A Papal Knight
IMAGE DISTRIBUTED FOR THE APPEAL OF CONSCIENCE FOUNDATION - Cardinal Timothy Dolan of the Archdiocese of New York, awards Rabbi Arthur Schneier, Senior Rabbi of Park East Synagogue and the Founder and President of the Appeal of Conscience Foundation, a Papal Knighthood, as a Knight of St. Sylvester by Pope Francis, at the Official Residence of the Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations, on Monday, April 27, 2015 in New York. (Photo by Stuart Ramson/Invision for the Appeal of Conscience Foundation/AP Images)
IMAGE DISTRIBUTED FOR THE APPEAL OF CONSCIENCE FOUNDATION - Cardinal Timothy Dolan of the Archdiocese of New York, awards Rabbi Arthur Schneier, Senior Rabbi of Park East Synagogue and the Founder and President of the Appeal of Conscience Foundation, a Papal Knighthood, as a Knight of St. Sylvester by Pope Francis, at the Official Residence of the Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations, on Monday, April 27, 2015 in New York. (Photo by Stuart Ramson/Invision for the Appeal of Conscience Foundation/AP Images)

NEW YORK (AP) - A Park Avenue synagogue rabbi has received a papal knighthood.

Arthur Schneier of the Park East Synagogue was honored Monday for his work on behalf of religious freedom and international peace.

The Wall Street Journal (http://on.wsj.com/1IimP8P) says Schneier was knighted and made a member of the Papal Order of St. Sylvester at a Manhattan ceremony. Previous luminaries who have held the title include comedian Bob Hope and industrialist Oskar Schindler.

Cardinal Timothy Dolan says the recognition was Pope Francis' "touching and tender way of confirming" Schneier's good works.

During his career, the 84-year-old Holocaust survivor campaigned for greater religious freedom and tolerance. He also built ties between Jews and Roman Catholics after World War II.

Schneier has been affiliated with Park East Synagogue since 1962.

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