Pius XII and the Second World War: According to the Archives of the Vatican

St. Anthony Messenger
Explains what Pope Pius XII did to help victims of Nazi oppression in Europe during World War II.


Social Justice Review
This remarkable work is historiography at its best.


Choice
A highly important work.


Josephinum Journal of Theology
This should silence criticism of the pope.


New Oxford Review
The book is a winner.


Book Description
This book hopes to resolve but in the end may add to the controversy whether Pius XII was cold and unfeeling toward the Jews during World War II. In answer to the charge, the Vatican diplomatic archives for that period were opened over thirty years ago. The twelve volumes published in Italian were largely ignored, though the controversy continued. Here now, available in English for the first time, is a one-volume summary recently written by one of the original historians to work on the archives. This detailed chronological report follows day by day and sometimes hour by hour the work of Pius XII and his associates from May 1939, when the Germans marched into Prague just three days after he was raised to the papacy, until the very end of the war. Included are his public statements, speeches, messages, and letters exchanged with civil and ecclesiastical dignitaries, as well as details of his secret maneuvering to forestall the ruin of Europe and to offer relief where possible. The Pope faced an untenable situation. Recorded are both his own doubts about the extent of his actions as well as the vigorous praise of contemporary statesmen. Previous charges against Pius XII have been based on scanty evidence. Here at last is evidence, yet each side will undoubtedly find in it fuel for its own argument. The book is a revelation, showing the hitherto unknown efforts the Pope took to advance peace, but the haunting question remains: did he do enough? Only readers of this book will be able to judge. This is a critical title for church historians, holocaust scholars, World War II historians, and anyone involved in the Jewish-Christian dialogue.


Language Notes
Text: English (translation)
Original Language: French


About the Author
Pierre Blet, S.J., received his doctorate at the Sorbonne. He is a specialist in the history of church-state relations in the 17th century and a corresponding member of the Institut de France. He has been a professor of modern history at the Pontifical Gregorian University and has taught diplomatic history at the Pontificia Academia Ecclesiastica.


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In 1964, Pope Paul VI ordered the Vatican diplomatic archives covering the period of World War II opened, and they were eventually published in 12 volumes. Blet taught history at the Pontificia Academia Ecclesiastica for 17 years, and here constructs from those records an account of what is widely perceived as Pius XII's silence at the time about the Nazi treatment of Jews. He concludes that Pius did much more privately than publicly to protect Jews and others threatened. It was first published as by Academique Perrin in 1997. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)


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