Language:
French
Year of publication:
1999
Titel der Quelle:
Archivum Historiae Pontificiae
Angaben zur Quelle:
37 (1999) 161-190
Keywords:
Pius
;
Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945) Catholic Church
Abstract:
Stresses that the Holy See strove for cautiousness and pragmatism in conducting its policies during World War II. Pius XII was a good diplomat, who preferred discreet interventions to loud statements, inter alia out of concern for the status of the Catholics in occupied Europe. As an avowed anti-communist, he also feared that a Soviet defeat of the Germans would pave the way for an atheistic social order. Nevertheless, he addressed the sufferings of those persecuted because of their nationality or race on three occasions: in 1940, 1942, and 1943. By maintaining good contacts with Eastern European governments, he hoped to be able to directly influence their anti-Jewish legislation. States that the Holy See intervened, albeit in vain, in favor of the Jews, first and foremost baptized Jews, in Slovakia, Croatia, and Hungary. The Apostolic Nuncios counted on local episcopates for help, but - with the exception of a Hungarian initiative which resulted in the creation of a rescue organization - the bishops hesitated to step up to help the Jews. Discusses, also, the Holy See's attempts to facilitate the emigration of Jews from Central and Eastern Europe to America, Africa, Mediterranean countries, and even Palestine, although the Holy See did not view Jewish immigration there favorably. Concludes that the Pope's discreet policies led to the rescue of 800,000 Jews through various actions taken by members of the Catholic Church throughout occupied Europe.
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