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Cornwell’s
Pope: A Nasty Caricature of a Noble and Saintly Man
- ZENIT
Against John Cornwell's
book: "Hitler's Pope: The Secret History of Pius XII," a point
by point rebuttal is provided by Dr. Peter Gumpel, S.J., one of the most
respected authorities on the Catholic Church and the Second World War
and postulator of the cause for beatification of Pius XII.
Did
Pius XII Remain Silent?
– Fr William Saunders
In spite of Hitler’s reprisals against the Church, the Pope did speak
out against persecution of the Jews, and acted in secret, to deliver as
many as possible from the Nazis.
Difficult
Relations Between Church and Nazism
- ZENIT
On 4 May 2000, the
Pontifical Athenaeum "Regina Apostolorum" in Rome held a
Congress on "The Martyrs of Eastern Europe and Nazism." Among
the speakers was Fr. Peter Gumpel, a prestigious historian and official
postulator of the Society of Jesus, who addressed the topic of the
relations between the Catholic Church and Nazism.
Eichmann’s
Diary Reveals Church’s Assistance to Jews
- ZENIT
Adolf Eichmann’s
diaries, executed in 1962 for "crimes against the Jewish people and
against humanity," show that the Pope "vigorously protested
the arrest of Jews, requesting the interruption of such action."
Historical
Truth of Pius XII’s Work
- ZENIT
Sister Margaret Marchione’s book, Pius XII: Architect of Peace,
looks at the Holocaust, and praises Pius XII’s work in support of the
persecuted. The author, who is internationally known for her numerous
publications on historic figures, maintains that this Pontiff was one of
the most invaluable protectors of the Jews in countries dominated by
National Socialism, whose atrocities he condemned.
Jewish
Recognition of Pope Pius XII’s Support
- ZENIT
Reports that "a
document has been discovered in Israel that not only confirms Pius XII's
role in defense of persecuted Jews, but reveals that world leaders of
the Jewish communities at the time were very aware of his action, to the
point that after the war they came to Rome and gave the Catholic Church
a very generous donation."
Jewish-Catholic
Commission to Study World War II
- ZENIT
Six scholars, three
Catholic and three Jewish, will form a joint team to study the 11
volumes of Vatican documents relating to the Second World War. In
particular, the Commission will analyze the Catholic Church’s relation
with the Jews during those very complex years of world history.
New
Studies Document Pius XII’s Opposition to Nazism
– ZENIT
A new book,
"Fascism, the Church, and the Catholic Movement in Italy:
1922-1943," by Russian historian Evghenija Tokareva, sheds further
light on Pius XII’s response to Nazi persecution of the Jews.
Pius
XII and the Holocaust
- The Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights
Compilation of
articles, including two by Robert A. Graham, S.J., "How to
Manufacture a Legend," on the alleged silence of Pius XII, and
"Pius XII’s Defense of Jews and Others," written with full
access to the Vatican Archives; also "A Question of Judgment: Pius
XII and the Jews," by Joseph Lichten, then director of
International Affairs for the Anti-Defamation League of B'nai B'rith.
Pius
XII and the Jews
- National Association of Catholic Families
In response to the question, why Pius XII did not speak out more
forcefully against Hitler, historian Fr Dermot Fenlon of the Birmingham
Oratory looks at the facts and sets the record straight.
Pius
XII Rehabilitated by Jewish Historian
– ZENIT
Newly revealed documents show Nazis regarded the Pope as an enemy
because of his assistance to Jews.
Pius
XII: the Martyrdom of Silence - Dr Emilia Paola Pacelli
Dr Pacelli gives testimony to the Pope's suffering in silence rather than give occasion to the Nazis to worsen their atrocities.
Pius
XII’s 1941 Letter Protested Treatment of Jews
- ZENIT
Russian historian
Evghenjia Tokareva, author of the first Russian monograph on
"Fascism, the Church, and the Catholic Movement in Italy
(1922-1943)," said that in "January 1941, Pius XII was ready
to address a letter to Germany, with a strong protest for the arrest and
deportation of 40,000 Jews, but he burnt it, explaining that the
protests he expressed before caused very harsh reprisals."
Pius
XII’s Cause of Beatification Progresses
–ZENIT
In spite of campaign
launched against Pius XII, his cause of beatification "is
proceeding rapidly," according to Fr. Peter Gumpel, relator of the
cause.
Saviour
of the Jews –
Michael O’Carroll C.S.Sp.
Raises the question of
why Pius XII continues to be charged with doing nothing to save the
Jews, when the evidence to the contrary is so accessible and compelling.
The
Myth in the Light of the Archives
– Peirre Blet, S.J.
Accusers of Pius XII are referred to the Archives of the Vatican
Secretariat of State, accessible since 1964, where files record the day
by day, sometimes hour by hour, activity of the Pope and his offices.
World
Press Unmasks Fallacies in Book Defaming Pius XII
– ZENIT
In a follow-up
interview, Dr Peter Gumpel responds to questions on the Cornwell book
against Pius XII.
Most of Rome's Jews Were Saved From Hitler's Final Solution
- LOR
In an interview, given to the German Catholic News Agency (KNA) on 7 November 2000, by Mr Nikolaus Kunkel, a German army officer
testifies to Pius XII’s actions to save Roman Jews during the Second
World War.
The Good Samaritan: Jewish Praise For Pope Pius XII
- Dimitri Cavalli
This article brings together a considerable amount of previously scattered evidence for how
Jews during Pius's lifetime viewed his conduct. It also raises the question, Were the Jews who
praised and thanked Pius after the war all mistaken or insincere, or are the attacks on Pius today
unfair?
Rabbi
defends Pius XII against criticisms - Rabbi David G. Dalin
In an article appearing in the February 26, 2001 edition of The Weekly
Standard, a political weekly edited by conservative commentators William Kristol and Fred Barnes,
Rabbi David G. Dalin persuasively addresses the criticisms of Pope Pius
XII in recent books which argue he did little to oppose the Holocaust
during World War II.
Review of Pierre Blet's Book
- Konrad Repgen
In this article, a professor emeritus of the University of Bonn reviews the book by Fr Pierre
Blet, S.J., Papst Pius XII und der Zweite Weltkrieg. Aus den Akten de Vatikans ("Pius XII and
the Second World War, according to the Archives of the Vatican").
Pius XII Saved More Jews Than Schindler
- LOR
In an interview conducted by L'Osservatore Romano (5 September 2001), historian Rabbi
David Dalin defends Pope Pius XII against revisionist historians, who charge him with not doing
enough to defend the Jews against Nazi persecution.
For
Berlin, Pius XII Was a Subversive - ZENIT
In opposition to continuing charges that Pius XII was unjustifiably silent in the face of Nazism,
Protestant pastor Francois de Beaulieu revealed to the French weekly "Reforme" his experience in
1942 as a radio operator secretly spreading Pope Pius's famous Christmas radio message against
Nazism.
The Commission That Couldn't Shoot Straight
- Dimitri Cavalli
Suspension of the International Catholic-Jewish Historical Commission was
announced on 23 July 2001. Mr. Cavalli examines what went wrong with the Commission, formed to evaluate
Vatican documents on Pope Pius XII's actions during the Holocaust.
A "Righteous Gentile" Defends Pius XII - ZENIT
A piece on Pope Pius XII by University of Mississippi law professor Ron Rychlak. The author of "Hitler, the War and the Pope," Rychlak counters the charge that the
Pope was not involved in Catholic efforts to save the Jews by producing an eyewitness, Tibor
Baranski, executive secretary of the Jewish Protection Movement of the Holy See in Hungary
during World War II, and honored by Yad Vashem as a Righteous Gentile.
Pius XII's
Directive Helped Save 800 Jews - ZENIT
Newly found evidence shows that Pius XII helped spare the lives of 800 Jews in the Italian cities
of Livorno, Lucca and Pisa, when he asked various Church groups to help preserve them from
Nazi persecution in 1943 and 1944.
Vatican Told Nuncio to Forgo Praise of Hitler - ZENIT
The recently opened Vatican-archives material relating to the interwar era continues to refute the
theses that accuse Popes Pius XI and Pius XII of acquiescence to Adolf Hitler. In an interview
published by the newspaper Il Giornale, professor Matteo Luigi Napolitano, who teaches
church-state relations at the University of Urbino, Italy, described the Holy See's position vis-à-vis
the Nazi regime.
On Hitler, the
Holy See and the Jews - ZENIT
An interview with historian Father Giovanni
Sale about the findings published in his book, Hitler, la Santa Sede
e gli Ebrei, in which he analyzed the relations between The Vatican
and the Third Reich during 1933-1945.
Pius
XII's Aid to Jews Stirred Protests - ZENIT
Documentation from the
Vatican Secret Archives has revealed that Pope Pius XII's wartime
assistance to Jews was so great that it stirred protests in some
Catholic circles. In order to understand better these discoveries, ZENIT
(4 July 2004) interviewed Father Peter Gumpel, a historian and expert on
the matter.
Pius
XII as a Righteous Gentile - ZENIT
Despite what some modern critics say, Pope Pius XII launched a
multifaceted response to the Nazi campaign against the Jews. So says
Ronald Rychlak, an adviser to the Holy See's delegation to the United
Nations, and University of Mississippi law professor. Rychlak shared
with ZENIT some of the information he has amassed in defense of Pius XII
and the Church, and how Catholics can respond to detractors.
Pius XII's Massive Crusade - ZENIT
As the 50th anniversary of the death of Pope Pius XII approaches,
errors regarding his life and involvement with the Holocaust continue to
persist, says historian Sister Margherita Marchione. Sister Marchione
described for ZENIT the Pope's tireless efforts to save Jews and reunite
prisoners of war with their families.
Holy See
and the Jewish Question - ZENIT
The publication of a new book has renewed the debate about Pope Pius
XII's process of beatification. La Santa Sede e la questione ebraica
(1933-1945) (The Holy See and the Jewish Question (1933-1945)) is
written by Alessandro Duce, professor of history of international
relations at the University of Parma, and published by Studium. To have
a broader idea of the question, ZENIT interviewed Duce.
The
Encyclical that Infuriated Hitler - ZENIT
On Palm Sunday of 1937, Pope Pius XI's encyclical "Mit Brennender Sorge"
was read in all the parishes of Germany. It was arguably the Holy See's
harshest criticism ever of a political regime, according to Jesuit
Father Peter Gumpel. And Pius XII, then Secretary of State, helped to
write it.
More
Testimonies Defend Pius XII
Many past testimonies support Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone's announcement
that Pope Pius XII signed a letter in 1943 asking religious institutes
to open their doors to persecuted Jews. That wartime letter undercuts
the theory that bishops, religious and many Catholics who risked their
lives to save Jews from extermination did so without the Pope's
knowledge.
Cardinal Bertone on Pius XII
At the presentation of a book by Andrea Tornielli, "Pio XII: Un Uomo Sul
Trono di Pietro" (Pius XII: A Man on the Throne of Peter), Vatican
Secretary of State Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone addressed the "black
legend," that Pius the XII had kept silent in the face of Nazi
atrocities against the Jews.
History Will Render Justice to
Pope Pius XII
Fifty years after Pius XII's death, the
black legend of "Hitler's Pope" is still vividly present in the
newspapers. Paolo Mieli, an authoritative historian and editor-in-chief
of an important Italian daily, Corriere della Sera, discusses it
here in an interview with Giovanni Maria Vian, editor-in-chief of
L'Osservatore Romano, and with the author of this article.
The Multifaceted and Fruitful
Magisterium of Pius XII - Pope Benedict XVI -
On 8 November 2008, the Holy Father met with participants at a
congress on "The Heritage of the Magisterium of Pius XII and the Second
Vatican Council" promoted by the Pontifical Lateran University and the
Pontifical Gregorian University. The Pope observed that the present
narrow focus on Pius XII's response to Nazi Germany has missed the depth
of a great historical-theological figure.
Hitler's Pope? A Judgment Historically Unsustainable - Cardinal
Tarcisio Bertone, S.D.B.
Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, Secretary of State, on 6 November
2008, opened in Rome, at the Pontifical Gregorian University, the
Congress "the Inheritance of the Magisterium of Pius XII", organized on
the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the death of Eugenio Pacelli. In
his speech, the Cardinal recalled the heroism of Pius XII in the face of
great difficulties.
Group
Gives New Proof of Pius XII's Help for Jews - ZENIT
Recently uncovered documents show gestures of friendship and
protection that Pius XII showed to Jews before, during and after World
War II. The discoveries were made by the German historian and advisor,
Michael Hesemann, who found a number of documents in the Vatican Secret
Archives that certified Pope Pacelli's numerous interventions in favor
of Jews.
Clarifying the
Nature and
Significance of Eugenio Pacelli's Pontificate - Giovanni Maria Vian
The Editor-in-Chief of
L'Osservatore Romano recapitulates the emergence of the "Black
Legend" about Pius XII in the years following World War II, with an
outline of the new historiographical consensus on the importance of his
pontificate.
New Evidence
Says Pius XII Helped Jews - ZENIT
A foundation that promotes
interreligious dialogue announced that it has more than 2,300 pages of
original documents illustrating Pope Pius XII's efforts to help Jews in
the face of Nazism. Gary Krupp, president of the New York-based Pave the
Way Foundation, affirmed this in a statement to ZENIT, stating also that
the documents from the years 1940-1945 will be made available to the
public for research.
Note Concerning Decree on the Heroic Virtues of Pius XII -
Fr. Federico Lombardi S.J.
Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi,
director of the Vatican press office, offered a statement to Vatican
Radio 23 December 2009, in response to Benedict XVI's declaration on 19
December, recognizing the heroic virtue of Pius XII. Fr Lombardi said
that Pope Pius XII has been declared "venerable" because he is a model
for Christian life, not because of the historical decisions he made.
Priest Gives
Proof of Pius XII's Aid to Jews - ZENIT
Jesús Colina of ZENIT reports the testimony, in favor of Pope Pius XII's
support of efforts to save Jews from the Nazis, of Father Giancarlo
Centioni, 97, who served as a military chaplain for the National
Security Volunteer Militia in Rome from 1940 to 1945.
Dishonesty
and Misinformation - Bernard-Henri Levy
As this article shows, the mass media have misinformed the
public regarding the actions and attitudes of two Popes, Benedict XVI
and Pius XII, toward the Jewish people.
Why the
Nazis Feared Pius XII - Dimitri Cavalli
Pope Pius XII continues to be charged with not speaking often
or loudly enough against the Nazi persecution of the Jews. As this
article indicates, the Nazis heard the Pope's messages loud and clear.
Confidential Audience in 1942 with Pius XII - Paolo Dezza
On 28 June 1964 "L'Osservatore della Domenica" published the
account by Fr Paolo Dezza, SJ — Rector of the Pontifical Gregorian
University from 1941-1951 — of a highly confidential Audience granted to
him by Pope Pius XII. This is a translation of his article, which was
written in Italian.
Pius XII
Advised by German Anti-Nazi Resistance -
Roberto Pertici
Documents confirm that the German anti-Nazi resistance advised Pius XII
not to intervene directly against Hitler, lest secret attempts by German
Catholics to replace Nazism with a democratic government be undermined.
How a Strategy
of Silence Saved Thousands of Jews - ZENIT
New findings have revealed documents and testimony, which clearly show
that on Oct. 16, 1943, it was the intentional lack of a public
denunciation by Pope Pius XII against the arrest of the Roman Jews,
which saved their lives and enabled their rescue.
Personal
Memories of Pius XII - ZENIT
In this ZENIT interview, Sister Margherita Marchione, of the community
of Religious Teachers Filippini, recalls her experience of Pius XII, and
relates her findings as one of the world's principle biographers of the
World War II Pope.
Pius XII's Efforts to Save Jewish Culture Revealed - ZENIT
The Pave the Way Foundation reports that important documents have been discovered in the Vatican Secret Archives which reveal that Pius XII worked to protect not only the Jewish people from the Nazi terror, but their synagogues, cultural centers and everything that pertained to their faith.
Scholars Decry Distortion of Pius XII Quotation - ZENIT
The latest attempt to discredit Pope Pius XII is based on a manufactured quote that distorts his words, assert two authors. Ronald Rychlak, author of "Hitler, the War, and the Pope," stated this in an article written with William Doino, Jr., contributor to "The Pius War: Responses to the Critics of Pius XII." ZENIT summarizes the content of this article.
Prelate Who Saved Some 10,000 Jews Dead at 98 - ZENIT
An archbishop who saved some 10,000 Jews during the Second World War in collaboration with Pope Pius XII died on 20 December 2010. He was 98. Archbishop Giovanni Ferrofino, former apostolic nuncio to Ecuador and Haiti, “was perhaps the greatest living eye witness to Pius XII’s life-saving efforts on behalf of Jews interviewed by" the Pave the Way Foundation.
Allies Urged Pope Pius XII - ZENIT
The United States and Great Britain discouraged Pope Pius XII from speaking out against Nazi brutality, warning the Pope that a public protest could have grave consequences. The Allies' recommendation is reported in a document unearthed recently by the New York-based Pave the Way Foundation, founded by an American Jew, Gary Krupp.
Documents Reveal Pius XII Saved 11,000 Roman Jews - Jesús Colina
The direct action of Pope Pius XII saved the lives of more than 11,000 Jews in Rome during the Second World War, according to documentation recently discovered by historians and made public by the Pave the Way Foundation.
Mission in Croatia on Behalf of Pius XII - Giovanni Preziosi
While the Second World War was blazing on the European continent, Benedictine abott, Monsignor Giuseppe Ramiro Marcone, was sent, in the summer of 1941, by the Holy See to the Croatian episcopate, as an Apostolic Visitor, to look after the Catholic interests in that country. As a result of this mission, the lives of many Jews, headed for Auschwitz, were saved.
Jewish Families Hidden by Pius XII - Giovanni Preziosi
The following extracts, translated from an article published in the Italian daily of L'Osservatore Romano on 11 May 2011, show the solicitude of Pope Pacelli for the Jews, as recorded in the Journal of the House of Villa Lante.
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