At the March audience, Pope Francis referred to interfaith dialogue as an "important tool" in increasing understanding between Judaism and Christianity, and stressed the importance of forming new generation of young people who are committed to interreligious dialogue.
Citing the "rich spiritual heritage" shared by Christians and Jews, the pope said that members of both faiths should seek each other out during this time of "depersonalizing secularism" in the Western world.
The shooting follows the devastating attack on a Pittsburgh synagogue last year.
On Oct. 27, 48-year-old Robert Bowers entered Pittsburgh's Tree of Life Synagogue equipped with an assault rifle and three handguns. Shouting anti-Semitic slogans, Bowers killed eight men and three women. He also injured six others, including four policemen. After a shootout with Pittsburgh Police and SWAT, Bowers was wounded and eventually surrendered.
Following that attack, several Pennsylvania bishops issued round condemnations of the rising tide of anti-Semitism.
Archbishop Charles Chaput of Philadelphia said that "Religious and ethnic hatred is vile in any form, but the ugly record of the last century is a lesson in the special evil of anti-Semitism. It has no place in America, and especially in the hearts of Christians."
Scranton's Bishop Joseph Bambera, who is the head of the Committee for Ecumenism and Interreligious Affairs at the USCCB, issued a statement on Sunday, claiming the act of violence to be cowardly.
"Anti-Semitism is to be condemned and has to be confronted by our nation. The Committee on Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops stands with our Jewish brothers and sisters during this time of great distress. May God grant peace to the dead, healing to the injured, and comfort to the families of those hurt and killed and to all the Jewish Community."