After pius xis death on february 10, 1939, cardinal pacelli was elected his successor as pope pius xii in a short conclave. Nov 01, 20 the kremlins framing of pius xii began on june 3, 1945, when radio moscow insinuated that pius xii was hitlers pope. He was elected pope by his fellow cardinals on march 2, 1939, following the death of his predecessor, pope pius xi. Pio xii, born eugenio maria giuseppe giovanni pacelli was head of the. I got involved in that framing operation in october 1959, when khrushchev visited romania. The kremlins framing of pius xii began on june 3, 1945, when radio moscow insinuated that pius xii was hitlers pope. The concordat with germany was signed by pope pius xi 192339. No hero, he said, in all of history was more militant, more fought against, none more heroic, than pius xii in pursuing the works of. This essay examines the relationship between the rise of hitler and the vatican.
Pius xi and the rise of adolf hitler iii publishing. He refused pleas for help on the grounds of neutrality, while making statements condemning injustices in general. But it was formulated and negotiated by his close aide, the papal. Pope pius xii addresses a large crowd after the liberation of. Pope pius xii knew about the holocaust, says german researcher. This is a personal and insightful portrait of pope pius xii, the memories of sister m. Pope pius xii addresses a large crowd after the liberation. Longburied vatican files reveal a new indictment of pope. An attendant opens the section of the vatican archive dedicated to pope pius xii on thursday.
Now, thanks to the impressive research of scholars like michael hesemann author of the pope who defied hitler. Pope pius xii, after building the nazi war machine, saw hitler losing his battle against russia, and he immediately jumped to the other side when he saw the handwriting on the wall. Mar 01, 2020 vatican opens archives on most controversial pope, pius xii, whose holocaust silence deafened world representative image. Mar 02, 2020 vatican allows scholars access to archives of pope pius xii now that the vatican has opened the archives, scholars hope the documents will shed light on ties among the vatican, nazi germany and. The covid19 pandemic came at the worst time for scholars and historians who had been waiting for the march 2 opening of.
Get your kindle here, or download a free kindle reading app. He had passed his boyhood in destitute circumstances when his uncle took him into his household, bestowed upon him his family name and arms, and superintended his training and education. During the second world war, pope pius xii maintained links to the german resistance to nazism against adolf hitlers nazi regime. German researchers who have seen the newly released documents from the vatican archives say close associates of the pope claimed the. Mar 02, 2020 pope pius xii s handwriting is seen on a rough draft of his speech in 1944, displayed during a guided tour for media of the vatican library on pope pius xii on feb. Pope pius xii saved thousands of jews jewish world.
Vatican allows scholars access to archives of pope pius xii now that the vatican has opened the archives, scholars hope the documents will shed light. Throughout his pontificate in rome, his private secretary and closest confidante was a german jesuit, father robert leiber, s. In it he accused the then pope of having remained silent during. Pio xii, born eugenio maria giuseppe giovanni pacelli italian pronunciation. Vatican to open secret archives on pope pius xii rome reports. Pius xii definition and meaning collins english dictionary. Archbishop eugenio pacelli, who later became pope pius xii, spent many years as papal nuncio in germany, spoke fluent german, and was very sympathetic to germans and german culture. Pope pius xii worked to help save many jews, his supporters have said, but he did so behind the scenes rather than publicly. Rolf hochhuth, a firebrand german writer whose play indicting pope pius xii for his silence about nazi crimes led to riots in theaters and an international furor but also greater transparency in. Pius xii has long been vilified as hitlers pope, accused of failing publicly to condemn the genocide of europes jews. He became pope of the roman catholic church on february 6, 1922 and died february 10, 1939. Pope pius xi was born on may 31, 1857 in desio, italy as ambrogio damiano achille ratti. Accused of being hitlers pope for his notable silence on the holocaust and the deportation of italianborn jews, the legacy of pope pius.
Pope pius xii addresses a large crowd after the liberation of rome from german control during world war ii. Negotiations were conducted on his behalf by cardinal eugenio pacelli, who later became pope pius xii 1939 1958. Her book, most of it written just a few months after the popes death, shares insights into the person, the life, and the thinking of pius xii, from his time as nuncio in munich until his death. A letter from archives on pope pius xii, who reigned from 19391958, written by german children to thank pius xii for the gifts they received for their first communion is displayed ahead of the full opening of the secret archives to scholars on march 2, at the vatican, february 27,2020. Vatican to open secret archives on pope pius xii rome. Vatican allows scholars access to archives of pope pius xii. The voice of pope pius xii is a lonely voice in the silence and darkness enveloping europe this christmas.
Mar 03, 2020 after wwii, pope pius xii was seen as a hero. In all of this, one of his often maligned german friends, robert leiber, was the conduit between pope and german opposition to hitler. Israele anton zolli, the chief rabbi of rome during the german occupation, wrote. Orientales omnes ecclesias all the eastern churches on the 350th anniversary of the reunion of the ruthenian church with the apostolic see. Popes pius xi 19221939 and pius xii 19391958 led the catholic church during the rise and fall of nazi germany. In it he accused the thenpope of having remained silent during.
Longburied vatican files reveal a new and shocking indictment of world war. The nazis gathered dissident priests that year in a dedicated barracks at dachau, where 95 percent of its 2,720 inmates were catholic mostly poles, with 411 germans. Before his election to the papacy, he served as secretary of the department of. Pacelli was ordained to the catholic priesthood in 1899, consecrated as a bishop in 1917, and was eventually made a cardinal in 1929. A group of german historians headed by professor hubert wolf, an expert on the catholic church from the university of munster, examined a number of documents, from the vatican archives over a period of a week in early. He took the name of pius iii in honour of his uncle, was crowned on 8 oct. Although the german catholic church had opposed the nazi party, the catholicaligned centre party capitulated in 1933. How pope pius xii became hitlers pope catholic answers. The truth about pius xii, and now publicized by the jerusalem post, this forgotten interventionwhich foreshadows pius xiis decision to join the antinazi german generals, in hopes of overthrowing hitler, during the second world.
Hitler opens by asking whether pius xii really was hitlers pope, as john cornwell notoriously alleged, or rather, as rieblings book maintains, hitlers implacable enemy. Vatican opens archives on most controversial pope, pius xii. When pius xi became pope in 1922 the german national socialist party, or nazi party, was an insignificant political force inside germany. Barnaba chiaramonti born at cesena in the pontifical states, 14 august, 1742. Vatican opens archives of world war iiera pope pius xii. The reichskonkordat was signed by pacelli and by the german government in june 1933, and included guarantees of liberty for the church, independence for catholic organisations and youth groups, and religious teaching in schools. May 26, 2014 pope pius xii addresses a large crowd after the liberation of rome from german control during world war ii. The reign of pope pius xii began on the eve of the second world war a time when he feared that the imminent war would lead to the destabilization of europe and culminate in the victory of militant atheism. Pope pius xii, accused of silence during the holocaust, knew jews were being killed, researcher says pope pius xii blesses a crowd in rome on dec. Reuters awardwinning german religious historian hubert wolf will be in rome on monday, armed with six assistants and two years of funding to start exploring documents from the private secretariat of the late pope.
German dignitaries on their way to wish hindenburg best wishes on his 80th birthday, while serving as nuncio to german republic. Pope pius xii helped hitler destroy german catholic political opposition. Volumes could be written on the multiform works of pius xii, and the countless priests, religious and laity who stood with him throughout the world during the war. Researchers say vatican archives show pope pius xii knew. The voice of pope pius xii is a lonely voice in the silence and. Pius knew only a few bishops well, probably the german ones better than others, for he had helped select some of them. The historical interpretation of pope pius xiis pontificate changed after the theater play the vicar by the german rolf hochhuth. Vatican opens archives on most controversial pope, pius xii, whose holocaust silence deafened world representative image. He was born and baptized as eugenio maria giuseppe giovanni pacelli. For much of the war, he maintained a public front of indifference and remained silent while german atrocities were committed. Rolf hochhuth, who challenged a popes wartime silence. There is a silence surrounding the catholic church during nazi germany and i have always been curious about the churchs role in the dark. Get premium, high resolution news photos at getty images. Oct 29, 20 pope pius xii helped hitler destroy german catholic political opposition.
Humani generis unitas the unity of the human race, pius xis planned encyclical against racism and antisemitism, was returned to its authors by the new pope. Decreeing that the majority required for the election of a new pope was to be twothirds plus one. References to the italian articles are to their republication in il concilio vaticano ii, cited as caprile, vol. Cassel includes critics, and not just supporters, of pius xii. New research has found that pope pius xii may have arranged the exodus of about 200,000 jews from germany just three weeks after kristallnacht, the daily telegraph reported on tuesday. During his reign as pope, the papacy confronted the ravages of world war ii 193945, the abuses of the nazi, fascist, and.
Pope pius xii and his secret war against nazi germany hardcover july 25, 2005. Through his links to the german resistance, pope pius xii warned the allies of the planned nazi invasion of the low countries in 1940. Pope pius xii received realtime reports of the mass murder of jews during the holocaust but his associates expressed doubts about the information, in part out of antisemitic motives, according to an initial examination of newly released documents from the vatican archives the files were opened to researchers in march but again became offlimits due to the coronavirus pandemic in italy. But his film makes clear where the hard evidence lies. His first radio message to the world was, peace, gift of god, desired by all upright men, the fruit of love and justice he was a man of peace. For nearly 20 years after world war ii, pope pius xii 19391958 was honored by the world for his actions in saving countless jewish lives in the face of the nazi holocaust. Although remaining publicly neutral, pius advised the british in 1940 of the readiness of certain german generals to overthrow hitler if they could be assured of an honourable peace, offered assistance to the german resistance in the event of a coup and warned the. The astonishing secret history of the pope who fought hitler. The historical interpretation of pope pius xii s pontificate changed after the theater play the vicar by the german rolf hochhuth. Pope pius xii biography life of the pope during wwii. Cardinal eugenio pacelli, future pope pius xii, standing w. Documents from vatican archives show pius xii deliberately ignored. Pascalina lehnert, who served as his housekeeper for forty years.
A 1963 german play, the deputy by rolf hochhuth, sparked questions about pius wartime role and accused him of complicit silence in the. Pronunciation of pope pius xii with 1 audio pronunciation, 8 translations and more for pope pius xii. In 1958, at the death of pope pius xii, golda meir, then israels minister of foreign affairs, delivered a eulogy on behalf of the nation of israel to the united nations, stating. See more ideas about pope pius xii, catholic and roman catholic. His death on october 9, 1958 brought a moment of silence from leonard bernstein while he conducted at new yorks carnegie hall. Pope pius xii s 18761958 actions during the holocaust remain controversial. Now that the vatican has opened the archives, scholars hope the documents will shed light on ties among the vatican, nazi germany and. Documents from vatican archives show pius xii deliberately.
Pope pius xii s handwriting is seen on a rough draft of his speech in 1944, displayed during a guided tour for media of the vatican library on pope pius xii on feb. His motto indicated peace to be a fruit of justice. Pope pius xii s secret support for the attempted overthrow of nazi dictator adolf hitler is the subject of a recent book that draws on wartime. Pius xii and the jews during world war ii michael journal. His reign as pope coincided with the rise of hitler and the nazi party to political power in germany.
Polish historian questions german researchers claims. This team has the advantage of having been to these archives, and we must face the truth calmly if some major new discovery is made, said. Pope pius xiis secret support for the attempted overthrow of nazi dictator adolf hitler is the subject of a recent book that draws on wartime. Feb 08, 2016 watch the download every week, mondayfriday. Now a british author has unearthed extensive material that vatican. Pope pius xii gives a blessing at the end of a radio message sept. Around a third of germans were catholic in the 1930s, generally in southern germany. Before his election to the papacy, pacelli served as secretary of the department of extraordinary ecclesiastical affairs, papal. Peters, but his remains were later transferred to s. During his pontificate pius xi concluded concordats with at least 21 nations in an effort to secure world peace and protect the spiritual mission of. Although hitler was born catholic, he was above all a germany nationalist who probably saw the pope, and potentially the catholic church in germany, as an international institution that would only help. We share the grief of the world over the death of his holiness pius xii. Pope pius xii s coatofarms showed the symbol of peace.
During a generation of wars and dissensions, he affirmed the high ideals of peace and. Vatican opens archives on most controversial pope, pius. Newly unsealed vatican archives lay out evidence of pope. A top polish historian has questioned claims by german researchers that newly opened vatican archives contain information damning the role played by pope pius xii during world war ii. The march 2 unsealing of the archives of pope pius xii, the controversial world war iiera pontiff whose papacy lasted from 1939 to 1958, has been awaited for decades by jewish groups and historians. Pope pius xii led the catholic church during the tumult of world war ii, but his silence on the fate of the millions of jews killed during the holocaust has.
Researchers say vatican archives show pope pius xii knew of wwii killing of jews german scholars exploring newly opened trove of documents find letter indicating pope was aware of massacre of jews. Feb 09, 20 pius xii has long been vilified as hitlers pope, accused of failing publicly to condemn the genocide of europes jews. Concordat watch germany pius xii, concordat negotiator and holocaust pope. This is a gateway to more than a dozen online articles about the the. Pope pius xii should have stood before the judges in nuremberg. From 20032006, the vatican released the entire archives of pope pius xis pontificate 19221939, when eugenio pacelli, the future pius xii, was pius xis secretary of state. Pope pius xiis coatofarms showed the symbol of peace. The strain of the long ceremony was so great that the pope sank under it. Once in munich, he conveyed the papal initiative to end the war to german authorities. Pio xii, born eugenio maria giuseppe giovanni pacelli march 2, 1876 october 9, 1958, was an italian priest of the roman.
Pius xii, original name eugenio maria giuseppe giovanni pacelli, born march 2, 1876, rome, italydied october 9, 1958, castel gandolfo, pope, bishop of rome and head of the roman catholic church, who had a long, tumultuous, and controversial pontificate 193958. Pope pius m was henceforth considered an enemy by the nazis. The article on pius xii has been enlarged and republished as pius xii. Pio xii, born eugenio maria giuseppe giovanni pacelli loweralpha 1 italian pronunciation. Based on vatican documents and personal testimonies used for the beatification of pope pius xii, this epic film stars acclaimed actor james cromwell in a powerful movie about the great, often hidden struggle waged by the pope and many others with him to save the jews from the nazis during wwii. The voice of pope pius xii is a lonely voice in the silence and darkness enveloping europe this. Pius xi and pius xii 2 ecumenical councils is now closed and terminated.