Pius XII lead the Catholic Church for 19 years: from 1939 until his death in 1958. Now the Vatican could possibly make 16 million documents from his pontificate available in 2015. This archive could help shed some light on some sensitive moments during his time.
MATEO LUIGI NAPOLITANO
Guglielmo Marconi University (Rome)
'Anticipation is high on the publishing of these documents on Pius XII, especially on understanding how the Vatican bureaucracy functioned in making decisions. One of those in particular is regarding helping the Jewish people.â?
Many documents already show that parishes, convents and Churches protected the Jewish people when SS guards began arresting them in Rome and other cities in Italy.
Although it is known that the order of protection came from the Vatican, there is no written proof that shows it.
MATEO LUIGI NAPOLITANO
Guglielmo Marconi University (Rome)
'We have documents that the Jewish people were sheltered in Castelgandolfo, the summer residence of the Pope. I don't believe the Pope wouldn't have known that there were Jewish refugees in his own home.â?
Thousands of experts met in Rome to analyze the role of Pius XII and the Catholic Church during World War II.
They hope that with the publication of these documents on his pontificate, the dark legend surrounding this Pope will clear up forever.
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