The Jewish community in Rome has a special connection with the Vatican, with a local businessman recently planning to meet with Pope Francis to choose a porcelain dining set for the pontiff's personal apartment. However, the meeting was canceled as the pope is currently hospitalized. The Jews of Rome have lived in the city for over two millennia, under the rule of the Catholic Church. While they were persecuted, they were never expelled from Rome, serving a theological purpose. The relationship between the Church and the Jews is still marked by ambiguity and recent statements by Pope Francis have caused discontent in the Jewish community.