Language:
English
Year of publication:
2008
Titel der Quelle:
Journal of Church and State
Angaben zur Quelle:
50,3 (2008) 541-568
Keywords:
Pius
;
Catholic Church.
;
Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945) Catholic Church
Abstract:
While admitting that Pope Pius XII and the Vatican maintained a deplorable silence on Nazi racism, antisemitism, and atrocities in Europe, argues that this was not due to antisemitism or pro-Nazi sympathies. Pius XII was torn between two roles, those of diplomat and pastor, and while dealing with the Axis powers he preferred the first role. Moreover, in his conciliatory stance toward the Axis powers, Pius XII followed the view of Cardinal Pietro Gasparri and the strong tendency of the Vatican to oppose the course of confrontation with fascists and Nazis taken by Pius XI. The latter had issued many angry statements (including the encyclical "Mit brennender Sorge") condemning Nazi racism and antisemitism, but his intransigence led to a steady deterioration in relations between the Reich and the Vatican. In 1939 the conclave preferred to elect a more cautious and prudent Pacelli as pope. Argues that Pius XII did seek to provide help for Nazi victims without inciting the wrath of Hitler.
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