City authorities moved Tuesday to remove graffiti left by a far-right group insulting the memory of Rome's former chief rabbi Elio Toaff who died Sunday night aged 99.
Graffiti reading 'We'll dance on your grave Toaff' were found at the crossroads of Via del Colosseo and Via Cavour in the historic centre. Other graffiti conveying similar sentiments were also found in the Colosseum area.
All were signed by the neo-Nazi movement Militia.
"Once again Roman Jews are subject to unspeakable insults by Nazifascist groups," said the president of Equality Italy Aurelio Mancuso.
Receiving delegates from the Conference of European Rabbis for the first time on Monday Pope Francis voiced concern over mounting anti-Semitism in Europe and said the lesson of Auschwitz and the Shoah should "serve as a warning for present and future generations".
Toaff served as Rome's chief rabbi for 51 years until his retirement in 2002.
He is best remembered for his historic meeting with Pope John Paul II at the capital's synagogue in 1986.
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