Language:
English
Year of publication:
1998
Titel der Quelle:
Holocaust and Genocide Studies
Angaben zur Quelle:
12,2 (1998) 233-256
Keywords:
Pius
;
Church history 20th century
;
Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945)
;
Christianity and other religions Judaism 1945-
;
History
;
Judaism Relations 1945-
;
Christianity
;
Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945) Catholic Church
Abstract:
Although Pope Pius XII sought to save native Italian Jews during the Holocaust, the Jewish tragedy did not weigh on his mind and he failed to help European Jews more energetically. Fixated on the danger of communism for Christian civilization (which he believed to be greater than that of fascism and racism), and regarding Germany as the best bulwark against Bolshevism, he ignored the Nazi genocide. Under his pontificate, the Vatican favored Germany and pro-Nazi Croatia, and after the war sought amnesty for their war criminals. Despite the intercessions of Jacques Maritain and other ambassadors at the Vatican, the Vatican failed to lead a worldwide fight against antisemitism. After the war, the Vatican did not react to the Kielce pogrom. It kept silent on the issue of restitution for the Holocaust. Recently discovered documents suggest that the Vatican abetted the escape of Ante Pavelic and Adolf Eichmann, using money taken from Jews for this purpose.
DOI:
10.1093/hgs/12.2.233
URL:
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