[Mrs. Don-o]

The Pope would be the first to agree with you, that God alone forgives sins.

What the Pope here is reiterating (for this is nothing new) is that there is no "collective guilt" particularly damning Jews --- who, like Gentiles, share in a damaged, sin-prone human nature, as do we all, and whose sins, like all of humanity's sins, are the real burden Jesus carried as our Savior.

Did you read the statement?

[aMorePerfectUnion]

“What the Pope here is reiterating (for this is nothing new) is that there is no “collective guilt” particularly damning Jews -— who, like Gentiles, share in a damaged, sin-prone human nature, as do we all, and whose sins, like all of humanity’s sins, are the real burden Jesus carried as our Savior.”

Actually, there is BIBLICAL support for collective guilt.
The leadership at the time of Christ demanded that He be put to death and chose a common thief to be set free. They said, “Let his blood be upon us and upon our children.” The pope is wrong, if the article is correct.

Are they damned? No. That is a separate issue. God will again turn to Israel in the future.

“Did you read the statement?

Sure.