The papacy of Pius XII (1939-1958) has been a source of near-constant criticism and dispute since his death half a century ago. Central to the dispute is the alleged 'silence' of the Pope during the years of the Holocaust. By examining the often little studied pre-papal life of Eugenio Pacelli much can be found to understand the policies, actions and statements of Pius XII during the war. The opening of the Vatican German archives up to 1939 helped add detail and nuance to the author's writing. His methodology depends upon contextual interpretation of documents and material from many sources over the man's entire professional religious life up to 1943. This led the author to the conclusion that Pius XII did, in fact, act in a consistent manner towards the persecuted Jews of Europe, and had done so since the advent of National Socialism in the 1920s. Pacelli's behaviour during the war confirms his essential consistency, but also reveals the tragic flaw that relegated the Jews to be 'lesser victims'. His failure points to the moral crisis within many parts of the fractured Christian Commonwealth, as well as the personal culpability of Pacelli, the man and pope.
Product Identifiers
Publisher
Rosenberg Publishing
ISBN-13
9781877058714
eBay Product ID (ePID)
95583692
Product Key Features
Subject Area
Social Organisations
Author
Paul O'shea
Publication Name
A Cross Too Heavy: Eugenio Pacelli, Politics and the Jews of Europe 1917-1943
Format
Paperback
Language
English
Subject
History
Publication Year
2008
Type
Textbook
Number of Pages
240 Pages
Dimensions
Item Height
225mm
Item Width
150mm
Item Weight
550g
Additional Product Features
Title_Author
Paul O'shea
Country/Region of Manufacture
Australia
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