Did the Catholic Church play a leading part during World War II?

Résumé du document

The question of the part played by the Catholic Church during World War II is highly controversial. Historiography maintained its silence about this subject for quite a number of years. However, during the years 1964-1965, the Pope Pius XII had been the subject of numerous campaigns of denigrement. The controversy is still acute in the present scenario; some accuse the Pope of having been indifferent to the Shoah and not having spoken out against Hitler. Others consider that Pius XII worked behind the scenes to help Jews throughout the continent. Thus, the subject has stirred up much passion and still does, but now that most of the archives have been opened, it is probably easier to appease the debate and to analyze this very interesting topic.

Extraits

[...] The Primate of France had ordered Catholics to put a stop to the deportation of Jews. The French bishops, of both zones, made this protest to Vichy: mass arrest of the Jews last week and the ill-treatment to which they were subjected, particularly in the Paris Velodrome d'Hiver, has deeply shocked us. There were scenes of unspeakable horror when the deported parents were separated from their children. Our Christian conscience cries out in horror. In the name of humanity and Christian principles we demand the inalienable rights of all individuals. [...]

[...] The Italian clergy When Italy went to war in June 1940, her Catholic clergy applauded the declaration and blessed departing soldiers. As late as September 1942, well after the first Italian military reverses, the Archbishop of Bologna in a pastoral letter still wrote that “Italian justice will triumph”, and praised heroic, self-sacrificing behaviour of [Italian] soldiers”. When Russia came into the war, the Catholic paper l'Italia wrote, “Italians can be proud that the spiritual weapons of the Church, too, are ranged in the struggle against Bolshevism.” There also were extreme cases of clerical nationalism as the Rev. [...]

[...] Stephen's Cathedral, he said: nation is inferior to another . Murder is murder, and he who, for political reasons, orders mass executions will not receive the rites and consolations of the Church. Nor will the Church grant the sacraments to those who, on ideological grounds, abduct human beings for forced labour.” The German Foreign Office protested to the Hungarian government, suggesting that the Prince Primate would do better in his sermons to highlight the importance of a common front with Germany against Russian Communism. [...]

[...] Mussolini listened to Tacchi-Venturi without uttering a word. “Does your Excellency then consider that war as inevitable?” asked Tacchi-Venturi. “Certainly”, replied the Duce. what if Russia concludes an alliance with Britain and France?” “That does not matter”, said Mussolini. “What Russia does makes no difference.” But the Pope knew Italy would not be ready for war before six months. He hoped that he would have enough time to avoid the war by diplomacy. That is why he asked Poland to be moderate since he thought that Hitler had no intention of attacking the country. [...]

[...] The catholic church worked for peace A. The accession of the new Pope brought great hopes The Cardinal Pacelli was sent by Pius XI all over the world as his personal legate. He hoped that he would be his successor. Even if officially, he had no influence on this choice, his wishes probably influenced the Curia, especially at this time of international tension. Cardinal Pacelli was Nuncio, first in Munich from 1919 to 1926, and then in Berlin until 1929, experiences which undoubtedly developed his diplomatic skills. [...]