The sole copyright holder of the
Vatican documents herein is the Libreria Editrice Vaticana and the
digital version of the above named collection of documentation is
not to be used for any commercial purpose without the authorization
of both the Libreria Editrice Vaticana and the Vatican Secretary of
State.
Study of the
Papacy of Pope Pius XII -Document become more true by
Truth does not become more
true by virtue of the fact that the entire world agrees with it, nor
less so even if the whole world disagrees with it." Moreh
Nevuchim 2:15
Key Video Interviews Important
Articles
Wh en
PTWF began the quest for documents and witnesses, we search
t he
newpaper archives of the Palestine Post and the
NY
Times from 1939-1958.
Shocking results were that we could not find one negative article about
Pope Pius XII.
PTWF wishes to
acknowledge the contributions of research work
of Sr. Margherita Marchione ,
Prof. Ron Rychlak , William Doino , Dr.
Robert Moynihan, Fr. Livio Poloniato ,
Dmitri Cavalli, Fr. Peter Gumpel, Fr. Paulo Molinari,
Patrick Gallo, Dr. Michael Hesemann
and
many others, who have devoted years to research this period of
history. Many of the following documents may be deemed new and never
seen before but have in fact been available to worldwide
learning through research in the open Vatican Archives up to
1939 and in the archives of many
other nations. Our contributors have written articles and many books, which reference many of these "new" documents.
W wish to note that PTWF advisor in Germany Dr. Michael Hesemann,
has personally made multiple trips to the Vatican Archives and
personally discovered many of the following documents.
Is
Pope Pius XII a Righteous Gentile or Hitler's Pope? Please watch this 56 minute Power Point you
decide
Pope Pius XII and World War II- THE
DOCUMENTED TRUTH: A Compilation of International Evidence
Revealing the Wartime Acts of the Vatican.
12 VOLUMES OF THE ACTS
AND DOCUMENTS OF THE HOLY SEE DURING THE SECOND WORLD WAR 1939-1945
81-
November 30,
1938, Cardinal Pacelli reaches out for visas for the Jews of
Germany three weeks after Kristallnacht. PAcelli used the code
of converted Jews.
80- Letter
from Card. Pacelli trying to secure 200,000 visas for
Non-Aryan Catholics in 1938, 3 weeks after Kristallnacht. The
following pages list over 65 nuncios asked for assistance.
"Non-Aryan Catholics" was a code word for persecuted Jews. Since the
1933 concordat permitted the Church to care for converted Jews they
used this phrase in their correspondance. There is also no
reasonable way one can believe that there were 200,000 converted
Jews in Germany in 1938. The following documents are of the list of
nuncios that received the requests. There is one response in English
from Scotland speaking about caring for the Jews. There is the front
page of the Irish News stating that the Pope is trying to help the
Jews of Germany.
79-
German Newspaper dated 20 January 1946
reporting comments from Hitler where he plans to kill the pope and
and ignore the Vatican immunity. Courtesy of Nicolai Loringhoven.
78-Cardinal
Innitzer, Archbishop of Vienna and the other Austrian bishops signed
a declaration endorsing the Anschluss, and signed by Innitzer
with “Heil Hitler!” .
Vatican Radio had immediately broadcast a vehement denunciation of
the German action, and Cardinal Pacelli ordered Innitzer to report
to Rome. Before meeting with the pope, Innitzer met with Pacelli,
who had been outraged by Innitzer's statement. He made it clear that
Innitzer needed to retract; he was made to sign a new statement,
issued on behalf of all the Austrian bishops, which provided:
The Vatican newspaper April 2, 1938 reported that the bishops'
earlier statement had been issued without the approval of Rome.
77-1925 handwritten
letter from World Zionist Organization leader Nahum Sokolow,
acknowledging his past meeting with Pacelli where Pacelli
intervened to save the Jews of Palestine from the Ottoman
Turks. This letter asks for an appointment in 1925 where he
discussed the creation of a Jewish state in Palestine. The
Jewish Bulletin article acknowledges the cordial meeting
where this subject was discussed .
76-1939 letter from
Cardinal Pacelli asking 61 nuncios and bishops in the
Catholic world for assistance for 200,000 "non-Aryan
Catholics" (code for persecuted Jews) This letter circulated
weeks after
Kristallnacht November 9, 1938. The first telex
that was issued in November 30, 1938 went out 3 weeks after
Kristallnacht. The Holy See was able to secretly intercede
on behalf of all Jews
75-October
1943 the Vatican acted to save 460 Rabbis who came from
Poland by sending them through Japan through the Apostolic
Delegate in Tokyo to Shanghai, China .
74-Complete
documentation from Palatine Fr. Giancarlo Centione, of
the rescue efforts during the war supported directly by Pope
Pius XII. Testimony from Jews helped by Fr. Centione along
with the documents from the Actes of the Holy See during the
Second World War verifying these actions.
73-Documents from the Secretary General
of Romania February 5, 1944 indicating Pope Pius XII sent 1,353,000 lie to
aid the Jews of Transnistria Romania - Courtesy of
Dmitri Cavalli
72-Excommunication of anyone who joins the "Hitler Party" from
1930 with News articles from Germany and the Vatican
reporting this move
71-1931 Document from the Nuncio in
Bavaria,
which, condemns the errors of the National Socialism. The
excommunication of the Nazis is generally confirmed
70-Church
and National Socialism - Declaration of the Bishop of Mainz 1. It is
forbidden for Catholics to register as member of the Hitler Party. 2. Members
of the Hitler Party are not allowed to participate jointly in a
funeral or similar functions.
3. As long as a Catholic is registered member of the Hitler he is
not allowed to receive the sacraments."
69-Handwritten letter from Hermann Goring requesting an
audience with Cardinal Pacelli, which was flatly denied.
Goering met with a lower Monsignor
68-Letter response to Joseph Goebbels complaint about the
excommunication of Catholics who join the Nazi party
67-1938 Documents setting forth conditions that Catholic
Institutions must deal with the Nazi teachings
66-1930 Excommunication Orders
65-German and Italian News articles reporting the issues of the
excommunications
64-Publication which states
t hat
National Socialism contains in its cultural political
program heresies against important elements of the Catholic
faith and doctrine
63-Notarized testimony of the actions to save
Jews 1939-1945 of Msgr.
Giovanni Ferrofino (Italian)
62-Notarized testimony of the actions of Msgr. Giancarlo
Centione to save Jews in Germany and Poland (Italian)
61-Notarized testimony of the experience of
90 year old Michael Tagliacozzo
Holocaust survivor saved by the Vatican under Pius XII and an Israeli
historian (Hebrew) .
Currently Mr. Tagliacozzo directs the Italian section at
Beth Lohamè Haghettaot [Bet Lochame Ha-Ghettaot
- The
Ghetto Fighters’ House], one of the main museums and study
centers, located in
Kibbutz Lohamei Haghetaot D.N. Western Galilee .
60-Transcript of remarks from Emmanuele Pacifici Roman Jew
saved by the Church (Italian)
59-Universal Jewish and Israeli gratitude to Pope Pius XII
prior to the fictitious play The Deputy
58-1917
Archbishop Eugenio Pacelli intercedes to gain the release of
Palms for the Jewish holiday of Sukkoth held up in Italy
for the Chief Rabbi of Munich - Pacelli did not succeed
because the Holy See did not have diplomatic relations with
Italy
Translation
57-Documents of The American Jewish Committee acknowledges the
efforts of Pope Pius XII in a planned audience in July 1957,
where they want a statement from the Vatican with reference
to the Soviet intervention in exploiting and promoting anti
-Semitism in Europe
56-United States Foreign Service letter
explaining the "New Pope's" (Pius XII)
hatred of Hitler and National Socialism
55-Priest
testimony on his informing Pius XII on the Holocaust
54-Cardinal Pacelli intercedes to over turn an anti-Semitic law in Poland
53-Pope Pius
XII telegram to the Regent of Hungary to stop deporting the Jews
52-Augustinian Nuns entry in their mandated archives where they state they
were ordered by Pius XII to take in the Jews in 1943. She names many of the
Jewish "guests". The nun reports how they made alterations to make their guest
as comfortable as possible. The nun states the Holy Father is personally feeling
the suffering of the Jews.
52-English translation of the Nun's diary above
51-History of
the Graham Documents, 25000 documents and interviews on Pius XII relations and
intervention for the Jewish people during the war
50-1941 Palestine Post article of a young Jewish boy who meets
Pope Pius XII where he states loudly and clearly two times
before the Germans in the audience hall "Be proud to be a
Jew."
49-Archbishop Eugenio Pacelli intervenes in 1917 to save
the Jews of Palestine- Dr. Michael Hesemann
48-(German)
Power Point of the efforts of Eugenio Pacelli- Dr. Michael
Hesemann
47-Article of the involvement of Pacelli on behalf of the Jews
of Palestine by
Michael
Hesemann CSC
46-English
Translations for some of the above documents
45-1949-Testimony of a 96 year old priest who was directed by the Pope to
distribute cash and Vatican passports to "our desperate Jewish brothers and
sisters" from 1940-1945
44-Placard of
gratitude placed by the Italian Jewish communities in gratitude to Pope Pius XII
43-Palestine
Post and NY Times news reports of Pope Pius XII 1939-1958
42-Israeli
Philharmonic performance of gratitude of Holocaust survivors for Pope Pius XII
May 1958
41-Some prominent
Jewish personalities who praised Pope Pius XII
40-Jews
sheltered
in the summer residence of Pope Pius XII Castelgandolfo
39-Various documents defining Zionism including a1922 letter
recommending Chaim Weiztman to meet with Pope Benedict
XV
38-
The letter informs Pacelli about two French press articles
describing the strong position against racism of Card.
Schuster of Milan (Italy), the Archbishop of Malines
(Belgium) and Card. Verdier (France). The articles also
quoted another article by Osservatore Romano denouncing
racist theories.
37-
Vatican Documents of a German Jewish man Franz Knuppel
asking for Vatican help on being asked to leave his home in
France
36-
Jewish Polish writer thanks the Pope for his support of the
Jewish community and asks for help
35-
Secretary of State under Pius XII - documents with the
Vatican criticizes the Brazilian government's admission
policies to gain visas for 3000 Jews to Brazil
34-
Secretary of State documents dealing with Hitler's visit to
Italy [Pope Pius XI and Cardinal Pacelli closed
the Vatican and left Rome while Hitler visited because of
"the air was foul in Rome"]
33-
Pacelli criticizes the
New Year Eve speech
to Hitler
by Archbishop Orsenigo's (Nuncio to Berlin), as too flowery
32-
Pacelli approves Archbishop Cesare Orsenigo's speech to the
international journalists in Berlin of the important events
happening in the world.
31-
Secretary of State documents trying to negotiate a reduction
the high cost charged for Jewish immigration to Brazil - I n
further negotiations for asylum for 3000 Jews with the
Brazilian government and in conjunction with the other
documents on this subject, Abp. Masella is stating that the
Holy Father agrees that the right of asylum is not granted
to common criminals.
30-
Secretary of State draft 42 page letter to the German
Ambassador complaining about German violations to the
concordat and answers German accusations (this includes
arrests of priests and nuns without due process or allowing
them to have counsel and the German press making
anti-Catholic media coverage .
29-
Secretary of State Documents listing Catholic lay people and
priests in Nazi prisons. These priests all made public
statements anti-Nazis statements and Pacelli asked the
dioceses for this information
28-
Member of the Secretary of State correspondence discussing a
Washington Post Article of the visit of Hitler to Rome
with the Nunciature on Washington DC
27-
Secretary of State documents to the Nuncio to the United
States forming a committee for political refugees to support
Jewish and Catholic Jewish
immigration. Report of the Catholic Welfare agency in
bringing refugees into the US (false baptismal certificates
qualified Jews to emigrate the US since Catholics were
allowed to emigrate) They state that there are already a
large number of Jews in the US and there remains
professional competition which gives motives for restricting
Jewish immigration
26-
Notes on the response of secret encrypted
telegrams sent to Catholic countries
These telegrams sent to all of the nuncios state how
to behave with German diplomatic personnel. They are
permitted to invite them to official events but the nuncios
themselves should not attend events where they are invited
by the Germans but they should send a subordinate.
This shows the fine line the Holy See had to walk to
diplomatically protest Nazi Germany without
endangering the diplomatic relations,
25-
Pius XII's hand corrected 1942 Christmas message
additionally referring to so called Catholics (Nazi
Catholics) who have yielded doctrines contradict the faith
of the Catholic Church which impeded the work of its
priests. The challenges of Catholicism comparable to to
experience of the early Christians with ancient paganism.
24-
Remarks of Pius XII in November 29, 1945 when he met with a delegation of 80 Jewish survivors came to personally
thank Pope Pius XII for the generosity and help he showed
them during the war.
23-
Document reporting on negative religious conditions in
Germany 1937 . It reports Hitler's
personal hatred of the Catholic Church. The German
government had protested the encyclical Mit Brennender Sorge
and threatened jailing Vatican officials as traitors .(Msgr
Kass, assistant to Pacelli worked with the Concordat
negotiations) Germany is threatening war with the Church and
breaking of relations back in 1937.
22-
This is
the statement by Cardinal Mundelein which raised the anger
of Hitler referred to in the above documents -From FDR, the
Vatican , and the Roman Catholic Church in American
1933-1945 by David Woolner and../../Downloads/Roosevelt
article.pdf Richard Kurial page 20 -Article called Roosevelt
and the American Catholic Hierarchy
22-
Secretary of State correspondence with the Archbishop of
Munich and handwritten notes dealing with Pacelli's firm
stand against the Nazis and violations of the concordat.
20-
History Article of the origins of National Socialism
Doctrine in Germany to
Secretary of State in French
19-
1917 document where young Monsignor Pacelli interceded to
help the Jews of Palestine who were afraid that they would
be massacred by the Ottoman Turks. Pacelli has been
reassured by the German Government that the Jews and
Christians, and their Holy Places, will be protected with
military force if necessary,.
in November 1917, the
Israelite Congregations of Switzerland informed the Pope on
the danger of a Turkish massacre on the Jewish settlers in
Palestine, which at that time was a province of the Ottoman
Empire. Benedict XV delegated the affair to Pacelli, who,
supported by the Bavarian government, urged the German
Imperial Government to put pressure on the Ottoman
government; Mass murderer Kemal Pasha, responsible for the
Armenian genocide, lost the command in Palestine, which was
given to a German general,
18-
Niece of Msgr. Pirro Scavizzi sends a copy of a personal
article written in 1964 in defense of Pope Pius XII from
the Hochhuth play. He recounts how he saw the pope crying
like a child for the suffering of the Jews after he personally
reported the murder and starvation
of the Jews . He also states
how he was ordered to verbally deliver messages to the
nuncios of Europe. He states how the pope could not speak
out for fear of retaliation against the Jews.
17-
E xcerpts
from the drafts of reports handwritten by the
Apostolic Nuncio in Munich, Archbishop Eugenio Pacelli, to
the Cardinal Secretary of State Gasparri re. the Nazis.
Report from May 1st 1924: "The Nazism is probably the most
dangerous heresy of our time." (Archivio Segreto
Vaticano, Arch. Nunz. Monaco d.B. 396, Fasc. 7, Pos. XIV,
Baviera, p. 75)
16- Report
of May 4th, 1924: "The heresy of Nazism puts state and race
above everything, above true religion, above the truth and
above justice" (A.S.V., Arch. Nunz. Monaco 365,
Fasc. 7, Pos. XIV, Baviera, p. 83)
15-
"Several
high-ranking Jews requested from the Holy Father an
intervention against the danger of anti-Semitic excesses in
Germany. It is the tradition of the Holy See to direct its
universal mission of peace and charity to all mankind,
regardless of their social position or religious faith,
by making use of its charitable offices wherever necessary.
The Holy Father herewith directs Your Most Reverend
Excellency to see if and how it is might be possible to
become
in the desired way."
14-
This document is a new discovery which confirms Pacelli's
1917 intercession to save the Jews of Palestine and
meetings. This is a letter dated February 15,
1925, which Abp Pacelli sent to Cardinal Secretary of
State Gasparri to recommend Nachum Sokolov for a meeting
for establishment of a Jewish State in Palestine. A Jewish
State in Palestine was supported by Pacelli.
14-English Translation for some of the above document s
13-October
16, 1943 a telegram was received by the Secretary of State asking to
help 460 Polish Rabbis. This is the entry in Actes
et documents du Saint Siege vol. 9. The Apostolic
Delegate in Tokyo, Archbishop Marella, facilitated saving
these Rabbis by sending them into Shanghai and then into Hawaii and then
to the US. Here is the notation of the telegram in these volumes
identifying sealed documents.
12- April 1922 edition of "ISRAEL,"
the Jewish weekly newspaper serving Rome and Florence, reporting on
the meetings held in Italy earlier in April by the president of the
World Zionist Organization, Chaim Weizmann Vatican officially says
it is not opposed to a Jewish homeland in British Palestine, so long
as the protection of the Christian Holy Places is guaranteed, -
11-
Documents from the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem speaking of the
mission of the Christian - Muslim delegates who wish to come to Rome
to meet with Pope Benedict XV to gain suppport to defeat of the
Balfour Declaration. Hand written note from the Pope states they
will just be courteous and not make any substantive remarks,
10 -
Many documents dealing with Zionism and the establishment of a
Jewish homeland in Palestine. A 26 March 1922 letter of
recommendation for Cardinal Gasparri to receive Chaim Weitzman of
the World Zionist Organization. Documents discussed the
omission of discussion of Palestine of the Palestinian mandate in
the League of Nations.. This document contains supporting newspaper
accounts about Weitzman, This also contains Turkish opposition and
demands of the mandate
9-
Additional documents
and new reports on the effort to establish Jewish homeland in
Palestine and
Chaim Weitzman's meetings
8-
Archbishop Eugenio Pacelli, as Nuncio to Germany intervenes on
behalf of the Jewish Community to try to gain a release of
the Palms used for the Jewish holiday of Succoth. These were being
held up by Italy. .
7-
After meeting with Pope Benedict XV, Pacelli writes by hand his
disgust with the recently enacted Italian Racial laws. He says that
he is so disturbed that the Italian government is importing German
anti-Semitism into Italy
6-
Cable from Berlin to the Nazi headquarters in Rome where they are
instructed to arrest the 8000 Roman Jews to be sent to Mauthausen
concentration camp (a labor camp). These victims are to be used as
hostages. When Pius XII intervened and stopped the arrests over
1000, who were in Nazi hands, were then sent to Auschwitz by
persons unknown.
5-
The
affidavit of General Karl, Wolff German commander in Italy, of the plan he was
ordered to develop by Hitler to kidnap Pope Pius XII.
English
translation for the General Wolff Affidavit- Courtesy of Michael
Hesemann
Testimony from the Nuremberg trial by Erwin Lahousen Feb 1, 1946 of
the Stars and Stripes article of Hitler's plan to kill Pope Piux
XII. Letter to Italian newspaper and articles.
4-
Author of
the fictitious play The Deputy - Rolf Hochhuth photographed with his
friend, internationally known Holocaust denier, David Irving
3-
An
internal Gestapo report of the assassination attempt against Hitler
where the report specifically names Eugenio Pacelli as being a party
in the attempt .
2--
a small representative
sampling of 2335
pages of documents from Campagna
Many who call for the opening of the war years documents as their
only answer simply have not looked for these documents, which we
located in just one small diocese in Italy. These are from 1940-1945
and clearly show the intercession of the Vatican under Pius XII to
solve various problems for internees in this one location. They also
show the Pope's direct intercession where he sent money to th
Archbishop for the "care of the Jews you are protecting."
1-Report
from historian Paul Oshea of the contents of the 2335 pages of
documents
