We ask you, humbly: don't scroll away.
Hi readers, it seems you use Catholic Online a lot; that's great! It's a little awkward to ask, but we need your help. If you have already donated, we sincerely thank you. We're not salespeople, but we depend on donations averaging $14.76 and fewer than 1% of readers give. If you donate just $5.00, the price of your coffee, Catholic Online School could keep thriving. Thank you.Help Now >
Holy See and the Jewish Question
FREE Catholic Classes
Interview With Historian Alessandro Duce
ROME, NOV. 19, 2006 (Zenit) - The publication of a new book has renewed the debate about Pope Pius XII's process of beatification.
"La Santa Sede e la questione ebraica (1933-1945)" (The Holy See and the Jewish Questions (1933-1945) is written by Alessandro Duce, professor of history of international relations at the University of Parma, and published by Studium.
The book aims to offer a detailed reconstruction of the diplomatic and humanitarian work carried out by the Holy See in the face of the persecutions suffered by Jews, beginning with Hitler's rise to power in Germany up to the end of World War II.
Duce made use of Vatican archives as well as little-known Italian diplomatic sources. Among the book's revelations are the efforts by the Vatican to facilitate the emigration of European Jews to the Americas, and the Holy See's action to oppose the issuing of anti-Jewish legislation in Central and Eastern Europe.
The recent presentation of the volume in Rome also awakened interest in debates regarding Pius XII's cause of beatification. Numerous media reported that Cardinal José Saraiva Martins, prefect of the Congregation for Saints' Causes, has said that Pius XII's cause is "stopped."
Questioned by us, the spokesman for Pius XII's cause of beatification, Jesuit Father Peter Gumpel, revealed that Cardinal Saraiva Martins has asked him to declare that he "has never made a statement in which he upholds that Pius XII's cause is 'stopped.'"
We ask you, humbly: don't scroll away.
Hi readers, it seems you use Catholic Online a lot; that's great! It's a little awkward to ask, but we need your help. If you have already donated, we sincerely thank you. We're not salespeople, but we depend on donations averaging $14.76 and fewer than 1% of readers give. If you donate just $5.00, the price of your coffee, Catholic Online School could keep thriving. Thank you.Help Now >
Father Gumpel also criticized an Oct. 26 article in the newspaper Il Corriere della Sera which presents Duce's book as being critical of Pius XII, "when instead it is obvious that there are hundreds of pages with much documentary proof which demonstrate how and how much Popes Pius XI and especially Pius XII did for the Jews."
To have a broader idea of the question, we interviewed Duce.
Q: It has taken five years of research in the archives to write this book. What were the reasons that drove you to deepen your study of relations between the Holy See and "the Jewish question"?
Duce: From an examination of the numerous existing writings and the available archives, I arrived at a conviction: There was no systematic and integral work examining the conduct of the Holy See and its diplomatic structures in the whole temporal and geographic span in which Nazi and anti-Jewish violence was manifested.
I have tried to fill this void; it is not for me to say if I have succeeded.
Q: What are the conclusions of your research? How were Popes Pius XI's and Pius XII's relations with the Jews? How did they conduct themselves in the face of racial laws and persecutions of the Jewish people?
Duce: During the years of persecution, relations between the top of the Jewish communities and the Vatican were increasingly frequent and intense. The two Pontiffs of the period cannot be accused of indifference, instigation or complicity with the persecutors.
Q: An article published Oct. 26 by Il Corriere della Sera states that your book upholds the thesis of a "hesitant, isolated" even immobile Pope Pius XII, "unable to protect either believers or religious from persecution and martyrdom." Is this the result of your research?
Duce: The journalist's observation is precise and pertinent in substance, but it needs interpretation, namely, a specific reading, situated in the context of the events.
Pius XII's inability to protect believers themselves and the clergy from National Socialist violence should make one reflect. Can one expect someone who does not have the strength to protect "his own flock," to save his "neighbors"?
The context of the period is that of a double persecution: anti-Catholic - in general anti-religious -- and anti-Jewish. I think it is futile to specify that the second is much more violent and cruel than the first.
Q: On the occasion of the presentation of your book, some voices were raised to stop Pius XII's process of beatification. What is your opinion in this respect?
We ask you, humbly: don't scroll away.
Hi readers, it seems you use Catholic Online a lot; that's great! It's a little awkward to ask, but we need your help. If you have already donated, we sincerely thank you. We're not salespeople, but we depend on donations averaging $14.76 and fewer than 1% of readers give. If you donate just $5.00, the price of your coffee, Catholic Online School could keep thriving. Thank you.Help Now >
Duce: My research did not have as its objective to influence Pius XII's process of beatification. I must admit that I myself do not know the precise terms of this procedure, nor at what point it is today.
I have highlighted hundreds of documents -- many unknown until now. I do not exclude that some of them might be useful for the work of the commission in charge of the beatification.
For me the "historical" work is already very laborious; I have no intention of taking charge also of that of the commission.
Q: At the end of your book there is a chapter entitled "The Crusade of Charity." Can you explain what it is about?
Duce: The "crusade of charity" is an effective and happy expression used on several occasions by authoritative Vatican representatives. It tries to highlight the activity carried out by the Holy See during the conflict in favor of those who were suffering: searches for the missing; information; help for those detained; support of emigrations; economic aid to families, prisoners, the deported, etc.
Obviously it is an enormous and lasting effort sustained by Vatican structures and the nunciatures which, however, were not constituted with these objectives.
The Church of Rome wanted to provide assistance in all directions regardless of religion, nationality or race. In that multitude of sufferers were also the Jews.
Contact
Catholic Online
https://www.catholic.org
CA, US
Catholic Online - Publisher, 661 869-1000
info@yourcatholicvoice.org
Keywords
Holy See, Jews, Duce, Beatufication
More Catholic PRWire
Showing 1 - 50 of 4,716
A Recession Antidote
Randy Hain
Monaco & The Vatican: Monaco's Grace Kelly Exhibit to Rome--A Review of Monegasque-Holy See Diplomatic History
Dna. Maria St. Catherine Sharpe, t.o.s.m., T.O.SS.T.
The Why of Jesus' Death: A Pauline Perspective
Jerom Paul
A Royal Betrayal: Catholic Monaco Liberalizes Abortion
Dna. Maria St.Catherine De Grace Sharpe, t.o.s.m., T.O.SS.T.
Embrace every moment as sacred time
Mary Regina Morrell
My Dad
JoMarie Grinkiewicz
Letting go is simple wisdom with divine potential
Mary Regina Morrell
Father Lombardi's Address on Catholic Media
Catholic Online
Pope's Words to Pontifical Latin American College
Catholic Online
Prelate: Genetics Needs a Conscience
Catholic Online
State Aid for Catholic Schools: Help or Hindrance?
Catholic Online
Scorsese Planning Movie on Japanese Martyrs
Catholic Online
2 Nuns Kidnapped in Kenya Set Free
Catholic Online
Holy See-Israel Negotiation Moves Forward
Catholic Online
Franchising to Evangelize
Catholic Online
Catholics Decry Anti-Christianity in Israel
Catholic Online
Pope and Gordon Brown Meet About Development Aid
Catholic Online
Pontiff Backs Latin America's Continental Mission
Catholic Online
Cardinal Warns Against Anti-Catholic Education
Catholic Online
Full Circle
Robert Gieb
Three words to a deeper faith
Paul Sposite
Relections for Lent 2009
chris anthony
Wisdom lies beyond the surface of life
Mary Regina Morrell
World Food Program Director on Lent
Catholic Online
Moral Clarity
DAN SHEA
Pope's Lenten Message for 2009
Catholic Online
A Prayer for Monaco: Remembering the Faith Legacy of Prince Rainier III & Princess Grace and Contemplating the Moral Challenges of Prince Albert II
Dna. Maria St. Catherine Sharpe
Keeping a Lid on Permissiveness
Sally Connolly
Glimpse of Me
Sarah Reinhard
The 3 stages of life
Michele Szekely
Sex and the Married Woman
Cheryl Dickow
A Catholic Woman Returns to the Church
Cheryl Dickow
Modernity & Morality
Dan Shea
Just a Minute
Sarah Reinhard
Catholic identity ... triumphant reemergence!
Hugh McNichol
Edging God Out
Paul Sposite
Burying a St. Joseph Statue
Cheryl Dickow
George Bush Speaks on Papal Visit
Catholic Online
Sometimes moving forward means moving the canoe
Mary Regina Morrell
Action Changes Things: Teaching our Kids about Community Service
Lisa Hendey
Easter... A Way of Life
Paul Spoisite
Papal initiative...peace and harmony!
Hugh McNichol
Proclaim the mysteries of the Resurrection!
Hugh McNichol
Jerusalem Patriarch's Easter Message
Catholic Online
Good Friday Sermon of Father Cantalamessa
Catholic Online
Papal Address at the End of the Way of the Cross
Catholic Online
Cardinal Zen's Meditations for Via Crucis
Catholic Online
Interview With Vatican Aide on Jewish-Catholic Relations
Catholic Online
Pope Benedict XVI On the Easter Triduum
Catholic Online
Holy Saturday...anticipation!
Hugh McNichol
Join the Movement
When you sign up below, you don't just join an email list - you're joining an entire movement for Free world class Catholic education.
-
Mysteries of the Rosary
-
St. Faustina Kowalska
-
Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary
-
Saint of the Day for Wednesday, Oct 4th, 2023
-
Popular Saints
-
St. Francis of Assisi
-
Bible
-
Female / Women Saints
-
7 Morning Prayers you need to get your day started with God
-
Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Chaplain Reveals Unrest at Columbia University Caused by Communists
-
Discovering Who We Are: God's Truth in Scripture
-
Pope Francis Advises Parish Priests on Fostering a Missionary Church
-
5 Reasons Going To Church Is Important (even on days you feel like you can skip)
-
U.S. Catholic Parishes Experience Resurgence of Traditional Practices
Daily Catholic
- Daily Readings for Saturday, May 04, 2024
- St. Florian: Saint of the Day for Saturday, May 04, 2024
- The Universal Prayer (attributed to Pope Clement Xi): Prayer of the Day for Saturday, May 04, 2024
- Daily Readings for Friday, May 03, 2024
- St. James the Lesser: Saint of the Day for Friday, May 03, 2024
- Prayer before Starting on a Journey: Prayer of the Day for Friday, May 03, 2024
Copyright 2024 Catholic Online. All materials contained on this site, whether written, audible or visual are the exclusive property of Catholic Online and are protected under U.S. and International copyright laws, © Copyright 2024 Catholic Online. Any unauthorized use, without prior written consent of Catholic Online is strictly forbidden and prohibited.
Catholic Online is a Project of Your Catholic Voice Foundation, a Not-for-Profit Corporation. Your Catholic Voice Foundation has been granted a recognition of tax exemption under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Federal Tax Identification Number: 81-0596847. Your gift is tax-deductible as allowed by law.