Pope Pius XII: Pope During World War II

Pope Pius XII was pope during the period of World War II. He was required to cover issues and problems, which were very different to what other popes have had to deal with. Many believe that he encouraged Hitler’s efforts and refrained from condemning German cruelty; however, I think Pope Pius XII had the courage and persistence to stand for intellectual truth and moral freedom. The Pope’s efforts did not go unrecognized by Jewish authorities, even during the War. Eugenio Pacelli was born in Rome to a family that was devoted to service to the Vatican. Pacelli earned degrees in law and theology. In 1899 he was ordained a priest and in 1901 he was appointed to the papal secretariat of state. He worked under Pietro Cardinal Gasparri in order
His relation with the Axis and the Allies was fair and just, but his policies demonstrated a rigid anticommunism. He refused to support the Nazi invasion of the Soviet Union. In 1940, he welcomed Myron C. Taylor, U.S President Franklin Roosevelt’s personal representative to the Vatican. In 1942, Pius revealed his message regarding those who were treated unequally due to race or nationality. He didn’t say more because he was afraid that it would provoke the Hitler regime to brutalize those subject to Nazi terror and put the future of the church to risk. Pius established the Vatican Information Service. It served to provide aid to, and information about, war refugees. He also instructed the church to provide aid to Jews who saved lives. After the war, many regarded Pius as the “Pope of Silence”. They accused him of not doing enough to help Hitler’s victims. It was also said he focused more on subjects that were unrelated to the war. When the war was nearing to the end, Pope Pius opposed the surrender demanded by the Allies. He feared it would lengthen the fighting and spread the communist beliefs into eastern and central Europe. Pius condemned the expansion of communism into Eastern Europe. In 1949 he issued a decree fighting the Soviet Union’s totalitarianism. He also approved the Holy Office to excommunicate Catholics who joined with the
After the war, Rolf Hochhuth wrote a play called The Deputy. The play demonstrated the Pope as being very silent; however, even the playwright admitted that Pius XII was very active in support of the Jews. If there were still any accusations that Pius XII was silent, it was not because he lacked courage but because he was conducting a secret war against them to save the Jews. There were also negative consequences of speaking out against the Nazis. "In one tragic instance, the Archbishop of Utrecht was warned by the Nazis not to protest the deportation of Dutch Jews. He spoke out anyway and in retaliation the Catholic Jews of Holland were sent to their death.” One Jewish couple from Berlin who was helped by Pius XII said that it was better that the Pope said nothing or else the Gestapo (secret-police organization) would have become much more ruthless. Many countries were against the immigration of Jewish refugees. However, the Vatican was distributing false documents to Jews so they can pass secretly as Christians and escape the