Post by humphreyclarke on Sept 19, 2008 20:32:45 GMT
In the light of the historical revisionism thread I thought I might start a discussion on whether the 'Hitler' Pope' interpretation of Pius XII is in any way tenable. It is funny that Hitchens in his chapter on Hitler's relations with Pius XII left out a few things. Well quite a few things actually, lets restrict ourselves to one year, 1940.
On 12th of January, Pius XII informed the British ambassador to the Vatican that he had met a representative from various german generals (including his friend Ludwig Beck) who were preparing to overthrow Hitler. Pius was well informed of the conspiritors intentions and offered to act as an intermeadiary. Unfortunatly the British equivocated and the oppotunity passed.
In March 1940 'Hitler's Pope' was informed by his contacts of the date for the German's may offensive and immeadiatly passed the information in encrypted form to London and Paris. Again, a bit of an odd action for one depicted as Hitler's poodle.
(Burleigh, Sacred Causes, p225-226)
Later on he was personally responsible for saving 5 thousand jews in Rome including 500 housed in the papal summer residence. Other Vatican rescue efforts involved the rescue of tens of thousands of others.
Certainly one can point to the 1930 Concordat with the Nazis but I don't see what other choice the church had in the circumstances.
On 12th of January, Pius XII informed the British ambassador to the Vatican that he had met a representative from various german generals (including his friend Ludwig Beck) who were preparing to overthrow Hitler. Pius was well informed of the conspiritors intentions and offered to act as an intermeadiary. Unfortunatly the British equivocated and the oppotunity passed.
In March 1940 'Hitler's Pope' was informed by his contacts of the date for the German's may offensive and immeadiatly passed the information in encrypted form to London and Paris. Again, a bit of an odd action for one depicted as Hitler's poodle.
(Burleigh, Sacred Causes, p225-226)
Later on he was personally responsible for saving 5 thousand jews in Rome including 500 housed in the papal summer residence. Other Vatican rescue efforts involved the rescue of tens of thousands of others.
Certainly one can point to the 1930 Concordat with the Nazis but I don't see what other choice the church had in the circumstances.
