Language:
Italian
Year of publication:
2012
Titel der Quelle:
Italia; studi e ricerche sulla storia, la cultura e la letteratura degli Ebrei d'Italia
Angaben zur Quelle:
21 (2012) 91-128
Keywords:
Pius
;
Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945)
;
Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945) Catholic Church
;
Church history 20th century
;
Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945)
;
Jews
Abstract:
Pope Pius XII knew about the Nazi plan to deport the Jews of Rome for liquidation and about the orders from Berlin on this matter received by SS-General Karl Wolff in Rome no later than 9 October 1943 - i.e. a week before the roundup of 16 October. Nevertheless, he did not protest against this action, and also failed to warn the Jews of Rome. Many myths about the role of Pius XII and the Vatican in saving Jews (in particular, the myth of a secret order to hide Jews, allegedly issued by the Pope to convents and monasteries) were created after the war and are not true. Argues that Pius XII's behavior was the result of an agreement between him and the Nazi authorities in Rome: they would respect the neutrality of the Vatican, abstain from its military occupation and deportation of the Pope to Liechtenstein, prevent a communist rebellion in the city, etc., while the Pope would not intervene with the Nazis' anti-Jewish operations. In negotiating with the Nazis, the Pope negotiated not only the Vatican's neutrality, but first and foremost his own safety and a free hand in his attempts to reconciliate Britain and Germany against the common enemy - Bolshevism, and to prevent Germany's capitulation. Believes that the Pope's protest against the "roundup" could have made an impression on the Nazis. The Nazi decision not to repeat this type of action in Italy was in no way a result of the Church's intervention. Concludes that, during the war, Pius XII did not fulfill his role of moral leader to millions of believers.
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