What did the Pope know about the Holocaust? | DW Documentary

submitted by Strength In Numbas on 04/08/21 1

The Vatican opened once-secret records on Pope Pius XII on March 2020. This gave researchers a brand new insight into the Catholic Church during the Nazi era. What did the Pope know about the Holocaust? Pius XII, born Eugenio Pacelli, is one of the most controversial figures in recent church history. New archive material sheds light on his career and politics. As ambassador of the Holy See in Germany and Cardinal Secretary of State of the Vatican, Pacelli witnessed Hitler’s rise to power. He was elected Pope in 1939, just months before the start of World War II. But what role did he play during the Holocaust? Many accuse him of shirking his responsibilities; of complicit silence while minorities were murdered, especially the Jewish. Just days after the archives opened, church historian Hubert Wolf discovered a document describing the liquidation of the Warsaw Ghetto. Pope Pius XII read the paper on 27 September 1942, but its contents were never published. Nor were the notes in the margins by members of the Secretariat of State. But the Vatican claimed for decades that nothing was kept from the public. Defenders of Pius XII say he acted in secret to save the lives of many Jews. Thousands were hidden in church institutions, and the Roman Curia helped them to escape abroad. But the credibility of the Roman Curia during the Holocaust is now at stake, with many still unanswered questions. Why did Pius XII not join the Allies’ protest in December 1942 against the extermination of the Jews? ------------------------------------------------------------------- DW Documentary gives you knowledge beyond the headlines. Watch top documentaries from German broadcasters and international production companies. Meet intriguing people, travel to distant lands, get a look behind the complexities of daily life and build a deeper understanding of current affairs and global events. Subscribe and explore the world around you with DW Documentary. Subscribe to: DW Documentary: www.youtube.com/channel/UCW39zufHfsuGgpLviKh297Q?sub_confirmation=1# DW Documental (Spanish): www.youtube.com/dwdocumental DW Documentary وثائقية دي دبليو: (Arabic): www.youtube.com/dwdocarabia For more visit: www.dw.com/en/tv/docfilm/s-3610 Instagram: www.instagram.com/dwdocumentary/ Facebook: www.facebook.com/dw.stories We kindly ask viewers to read and stick to the DW netiquette policy on our channel: p.dw.com/p/MF1G

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