According to a new book by John Cornwell, Pope Pius XII was
deeply anti-Semitic and bore some responsibility for Hitler's
rise to power in Germany. My first reaction to this was, `` Here
we go again.''
Back in the '60's a fictional play called ,``The Deputy,''
leveled these same accusations against the recently ('58)
deceased pontiff and the suspicion that there might be some basis
to these charges has festered ever since.
Cornwell decided to research the Vatican archives for proof that
would exonerate Eugenio Pacelli (Pope Pius XII) but he was
dismayed to learn while pouring over secret Vatican documents
that Pacelli was even more of an anti-Semite than he had
suspected.
He offers as proof, letters written by Pacelli when he was a
Vatican envoy that clearly describe an antipathy towards Jews. He
also charges that when Pacelli rose to the papacy in 1939, he did
little to aid the Jews and refused to condemn Nazism.
Mr. Cornwell describes himself as a man reared a Catholic who had
no intention of defaming the Pope but that he feels the truth
must be revealed especially now that the Vatican is pursuing
sainthood for Pacelli. Clearly, Cornwell is a man who has had his
faith and firm beliefs shaken.
As a journalist I am compelled to search out the truth regardless
of my personal feelings because truth is the mission statement of
my columns. I am not afraid, however, of having my faith shaken
because my faith has never been based on any human being.
Popes and other members of the clergy are human beings who are
not always as impeccable and perfect as we'd like. Contrary to
what many people believe, the doctrine of papal infallibility is
applicable only in matters of faith and morals when spoken from
the chair of Peter (ex cathedra). Theologians have said, in a
word, that the pope can err in questions of fact, not in
questions of right; that he can err extra cathedram, outside the
chair of Peter. that is, as a private individual, by writings and
bad example.
During the darkest days of the Church when it was riddled with
corruption and endured bad Popes, it is interesting to note that
no changes in dogma were ever enacted by those in power.
The flaw in Cornwell's book is that he is clearly so devastated
by what he has read that he does not present much balance to his
work. It's always dangerous when a journalist becomes so
emotionally involved with an issue that his impartiality is
jeopardized. One should always step back and open one's mind to
the broader picture.
Much of what Cornwell alleges as fact, is drawn from examination
of documents he was allowed to access in the private Vatican
archives. These documents of course are not in English,
Cornwell's native language, and require translation. Relying only
on written documents is a tricky proposition and interpretation
of said documents should be as dispassionate as possible.
Cornwell criticizes the Pope for not making a forceful
denunciation of Hitler and Nazism. What he fails to make note of
is the possible reasoning behind this ambiguity of speech.
According to the Israeli Consul, Pinchas E. Lapide, in his book,
Three Popes and the Jews, the concentration camp prisoners did
not want Pius to speak out openly. One jurist from the Nuremberg
Trials said on WNBC in NY ( Feb.28, 1964), `` Any words of Pius
XII, directed against a madman like Hitler, would have brought on
an even worse catastrophe…and accelerated the massacre of
Jews and priests.''
Everything that Cornwell deduced from his research leads him to a
condemnation of the Catholic Church and Pope Pius XII for
insufficient activism against the Nazis. This deduction flies in
the face of actual evidence from witnesses to the contrary.
Israel Zolli, the Chief Rabbi of Rome during the Nazi occupation
was so impressed by the charity and work of Pacelli that in 1944
he converted to Catholicism. As his baptismal name he took the
name of Eugenio as his own.
The famous scientist, Albert Einstein, was reported in Time
magazine (Dec.23, 1940)to have said;
``Only the Church stood squarely across the path of Hitler's
campaign for suppressing truth. I never had any special interest
in the Church before, but now I feel a great affection and
admiration because the Church alone has had the courage and
persistence to stand for intellectual truth and moral freedom. I
am forced thus to confess that what I once despised I now praise
unreservedly.''
``We share the grief of the world over the death of His Holiness
Pius XII. . . . During the ten years of Nazi terror, when our
people passed through the horrors of martyrdom, the Pope raised
his voice to condemn the persecutors and to commiserate with
their victims''(Golda Meir, Israeli representative to the U.N.
and future prime minister of Israel).
I could go on and on quoting from Jewish scholars and historians
who would contradict Cornwell's depiction of Pius XII. I could
cite articles from the New York Times that prove that Pacelli was
not silent but an ardent protester against Hitler. I could quote
the Berlin Morgenpost which reported the day after Pacelli's
election as Pope that Germany was not pleased with this selection
because Pacelli was always opposed to Nazism.
But why bother? I can not judge whether he was as deeply
anti-Semitic as Cornwell asserts or whether he was as saintly as
those who personally knew him insist. I strongly suspect that
while a diplomatic envoy, Pacelli was initially more concerned
with Communism as a threat to Catholicism than Nazism and
regarded the Bolshevik Jews negatively. Did this prejudice expand
to include all Jews? I don't know.
I can only judge his performance as the Vicar of my faith. To do
this, I must imagine what it must have been like to live under
Nazi domination in Europe during World War II. I try to imagine
what I'd do if the troops were marching down my street searching
for Jews. What if my Jewish neighbors came to my back door
seeking shelter? I would have to think of my children and my
husband and realize that if we were caught harboring the Jews it
would mean certain death.
My decision would be influenced by my faith which would compel me
to do everything possible to protect a child of God. That's what
the parable of the Good Samaritan meant and what many European
Catholics did indeed do for their neighbors.
Consider the fact that the Israeli, Pinchas E. Lapide, estimates
that the Catholic Church under Pius XII was instrumental in
saving 860,000 Jews from Nazi death camps. It is my opinion that
Eugenio Pacelli, a.k.a. Pope Pius XII, performed his duties as
Vicar of Christ very well.