PIUS XII AND THE HOLOCAUST, Myth and Reality

By Jesus J. Chao

11 of 11

CONCLUSION

The relationship of trust and collaboration during WW II between the Holy See, the Jewish organizations, the Allies’ intelligence services and their governments, including the anti-German Generals, is well proven and documented. However, there is not the slightest thread of evidence to substantiate the preposterous and vicious allegations raised against Pius XII and the Catholic Church.

Did the Church do enough to save the Jews? As usual those who do the less complain the most and those who do the most always think they could have done even more. When Michael O’Carroll, author of the scholar book "Pius XII: Greatness Dishonoured" related in the Foreword that in 1957 he met Dr. Isaac Herzog, Chief Rabbi of Israel, and he told him with emotion of an audience he had with the Pope and how they discussed the prophet Ezechiel. "My blessing to him" said the saintly old man, and O’Carroll promised to be the bearer of the message of his goodwill. When O’Carroll gave the message to Pius XII he added "I think Jews everywhere are grateful for what you did for them during the war." "I wish I could have done more" was the Pope’s reply.

On February 28, 1945, the Chief Rabbi of Jerusalem, Isaac Herzog, sent a letter of gratitude to the

Apostolic Nuncio in Rumania, Msgr. Andrea Cassulo, stating that: "The people of Israel will never forget what His Holiness and his illustrious delegates, inspired by the eternal principles of religion which form the very foundations of civilization, are doing for us unfortunate brothers and sisters in the most tragic hour of our history, which is living prove of divine Providence in this world." (31)

Rabbi Herzog’s heartfelt words should suffice to forever end the slanderous attacks to the memory of the great protector of the Jews, Pius XII and the Catholic Church.

Those testimonies aforementioned, as powerful as they may be, are just a few samples of the hundreds of messages of gratitude sent to Pius XII by Jews from around the world. There are at least 4 to 5 million descendants of those 860,000 Jews around the world whose lives were saved by Pius XII and the Catholic Church. They should be able to bring to light much more valuable documentation if they were to delve into their family’s historical records, the Israeli’s archives, and so many other serious, unbiased, Jewish scholarly research in this matter.

In Pius XII’s own words in an address given on June 13, 1943, he said: "Our speeches and messages will not be able to be crossed out or run down by anyone, neither in their intentions nor essence. Everyone has been able to hear them as words of truth and peace…The Church is not afraid of the light of truth, neither of the past, the present, nor the future." (32)

Just as the evils of the Holocaust must never be forgotten, neither should the kindness of those spiritual brothers from another faith who tried to help the Jews, at the risk of their own lives, under the most enormously dangerous travails be forgotten. The truth will prevail and with it, a greater understanding and brotherhood among Jews and Catholics.

References:

"Pius XII Greatness Dishonoured" Michael O’Carroll, 1980, Laetare Press (a major source for this article).

"Christian Resistance to Anti-Semitism" Memories from 1940-1944, Henri de Lubac, Ignatius Press, 1988

"The Last Three Popes and the Jews", Pinchas Lapide, London, 1967.

"The Real Story of Pius XII and the Jews", James Bogle, The Salisbury Review, spring 1996.

"Las Puertas del Infierno" Ricardo de la Cierva, 1995, Editorial Fenix (Spanish historian and a prolific writer who has published numerous books on the History of The Church."

"Pius XII and the Holocaust" The Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights, 1988. Including:

"Pius XII’s Defense of Jews and Others": 1944-45 Robert A. Graham, S.J. (1987) (Foremost scholar in Pius XII. Since 1965 he formed part of a group of experts who had been working in the Vatican archives in the monumental task of editing an 11-volumen series containing the private records of the Secretariat of State during World War II.)

"A Question of Judgement: Pius XII and the Jews" Dr. Joseph L. Lichten (1963) (He wrote this work while serving as director of the International Affairs Department for the Anti-Defamation League for B’nai B’rith.)

"The Priest of Dachau" and "Priests of the Holocaust" William J. O’Malley, S.J. (1987)

"International Congress on Martyrs of Hitler’s Regime." Rome, May 2, 2000 (ZENIT)

http://www.ewtn.com/library/chistory/zchrcnaz.htm

"Did Pius XII Remain Silent?" Fr. William Saunders. http://www.ewtn.com/library/answers/piusjews.htm

"How to Manufacture a Legend: the Controversy Over the Alleged Silence of Pope Pius XII in World War II" Robert A. Graham, S.J. http://www.ewtn.com/library/answers/p12holo.htm

"The Real History of Pius XII and the Jews", James Bogle The Salisbury Review Spring 1996

http://www.catholicleague.org./Inventory/book5.htm

"New Documents Prove Nazis Distrusted Him for Helping Jews" Rome July 7, 2000

http://www,ewtn.com/library/chistory/zpi12rhb.htm

"Jewish-Catholic Commission to study World War II" Vatican City, November 23, 1999 (ZENIT)

http://www.ewtn.com/library/chistory/zjwctww2.htm

"Historical Truth of Pius XII’s Work" Rome, April 16, 2000 (ZENITH)

http://www.ewtn.com/library/chistory/zpi12his.htm

"Eichmann’s Diary Reveals Church’s Assistance to Jews" Jerusalem, march 1, 2000 (ZENITH)

http://www.ewtn.com/library/chistory/zpi12eic.htm

"Saviour of the Jews" Michael O’Carroll http://www.ewtn.com/libray/answers/pius12jw.htm

"The Myth in the Light of the Archives, the recurring accusations against Pope Pius XII" Pierre Blet, S.J.

http://www.ewtn.com/library/issues/bletp12.htm

"World Press Unmasks Fallacies in Book Defaming Pius XII" Vatican City, October 3, 1999

http://www.ewtn.com/library/issues/zpius12b.htm

Notes:

(1) "Pius XII, Greatness Dishonoured", Michael O’Carroll, p.39

(2) "A Question of Judgement: Pius XII and the Jews." Dr. Joseph L. Lichten, p.107

(3) "International Congress on Martyrs of Hitler’s Regime." p.1

(4) "A Question of Judgement: Pius XII and the Jews." Dr. Joseph L. Lichten, p. 106

(5) "A Question of Judgement: Pius XII and the Jews." Dr. Joseph L. Lichten, p. 107

(6) "Did Pius XII Remain Silent?" Fr. William Saunders, p.3

(7) "How to Manufacture a Legend: the Controversy Over the Alleged Silence of Pope Pius XII in World War II" Robert A. Graham, S.J., p.3

(8) "Pius XII, Greatness Dishonoured", Michael O’Carroll, p. 84

(9) "The Real History of Pius XII and the Jews", James Bogle, p. 14

(10) "New Documents Prove Nazis Distrusted Him for Helping Jews" p. 1

(11) "Pius XII, Greatness Dishonoured", Michael O’Carroll, p.103

(12) "Pius XII, Greatness Dishonoured", Michael O’Carroll,, p. 103

(13) "Priests of the Holocaust" William J. O’Malley, p.153

(14) "Priests of Dachau" William J. O’Malley, p.143

(15) "Pius XII, Greatness Dishonoured", Michael O’Carroll, p.135

(16) "Pius XII, Greatness Dishonoured", Michael O’Carroll, p.60

(17) "Pius XII, Greatness Dishonoured", Michael O’Carroll, p. 11

(18) "Pius XII, Greatness Dishonoured", Michael O’Carroll, p. 70

(19) "Pius XII, Greatness Dishonoured", Michael O’Carroll, p.105

(20)"Pius XII’s Defense of Jews and Others": 1944-45 Robert A. Graham, p.25

(21) "Pius XII’s Defense of Jews and Others": 1944-45 Robert A. Graham, p. 40

(22) "Pius XII and the Holocaust" p. 2

http://www,catholicleague.org/Inventory/book5.htm

(23) "Pius XII, Greatness Dishonoured", Michael O’Carroll, p. 108

(24) "The Real History of Pius XII and the Jews", James Bogle, p.4

(25) "Did Pius XII Remain Silent?" Fr. William Saunders, p. 4

(26) "Pius XII, Greatness Dishonoured", Michael O’Carroll, p.70

(27) "Pius XII, Greatness Dishonoured", Michael O’Carroll, p. 70

(28) "Pius XII, Greatness Dishonoured", Michael O’Carroll, p.149

(29) "A Question of Judgement: Pius XII and the Jews." Dr. Joseph L. Lichten, p. 129

(30) "A Question of Judgement: Pius XII and the Jews." Dr. Joseph L. Lichten, p. 129

(31) "Pius XII’s Defense of Jews and Others": 1944-45 Robert A. Graham, p. 26

(32) "Historical Truth of Pius XII’s Work" p. 2

1. Pius XII and the Holocaust, Myth and Reality

2. Pius XII & the Holocaust - Historical Frame

3. Pius XII and the Holocaust - 1933

4. Was Pius XII "Hitler's Pope"

5. Were Pius XII and the Church really silent during the Holocaust?

6. The Allies were slow in responding to the Pleas of the Jews

7. Pius XII - The forgotten victims of the Holocaust

8. The Rescue of the Jews: The Holy See made every possible effort to help the Jews

9. Pius XII and the Resistance

10. Pius XII- Allies slow in responding to the pleas of the Jews

11. Pius XII - Conclusion

Copyright © 2000 Jesus J. Chao

Printed on June 13, 2001 by Leap of Faith- www.faithleap.org  with Permission from Mr. Jesus J. Chao.

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