Pope Pius XII: Architect for Peace
by Margherita Marchione, Phd.

Although the subject of much controversy among Christians and Jews alike, Pius XII was not insensitive to the plight of the Jews in World War II, but on the contrary did much in his own way to save them. This is the thrust of Dr. Marchione's book, continuing the painstaking research she began in Yours Is a Precious Witness. That was an oral history from Jewish survivors who credit Pius XII with saving them from the Nazis. This new book taps wartime Vatican documents--long available and long ignored--to provide persuasive evidence that the "silent Pope" was working for peace. Her fascinating book makes available for the first time English translations of Vatican documents and wartime correspondence, revealing the Vatican's little-known wartime campaign that saved almost a million Jews. Dr. Marchione incorporates expert analyses and commentaries on the subject, and dozens of photos, appendices, and notes--all to balance what has been till now a very one-sided look at events. Because of its documentary value, this title is must reading by anyone who has an opinion on Pius XII, although each side may find further argument in it. It's also critically important for Church historians, Church leaders, Holocaust scholars, and anyone involved in the Jewish-Christian dialogue.

To counter the argument that the Pope kept silence during the Holocaust, Sister Margherita presents to us the encyclicals "Mit Brennender Sorge," and "Summi Pontificatus," as well as the thirty-three wartime messages which directly addressed the issue. To counter the argument that the Vatican did nothing to save the Jews, or others, hunted by the Nazis, she tells us of the thousands hidden in the old Roman ruins under the Papal residence at Castel Gandolfo, and the hundreds of thousands hidden in churches, monasteries, and convents throughout Europe with the knowledge and approval of the Holy See. Then, just to make her point, she introduces us to Israel Zolli, the Chief Rabbi of Rome, who converted to Christianity after the war, taking the Pope's first name as his own.

"This Christmas, more than ever, the Pope is a lonely voice crying out in the silence of a continent." --New York Times editorial, Dec. 25, 1942.

"Only the Church stood squarely across the path of Hitler's campaign for suppressing the truth." --Albert Einstein in Time magazine, Dec. 23, 1940.

"The Pope is virtually accusing the German people of injustice toward the Jews and makes himself the mouthpiece of Jewish war criminals." --Reaction of SS leader Reinhard Heydich to Pius XII's Christmas message of 1942.

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