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This is a sober and sobering book on one of the most controversial topics in modern history--Pope Pius XII's role in the Holocaust and the Cold War--written by Michael Phayer, a distinguished scholar of modern German, Holocaust, and Catholic Church history. Unlike several passionate recent studies of Pius XII (born Eugenio Pacelli in 1876 in Rome), Phayer makes every effort at scholarly restraint and caution. But, in the end, his careful effort produces powerful evidence that will likely add significantly to the controversy surrounding the pope, whose canonization process has already been set in motion. Certainly anyone interested in this fascinating, important, and disturbing topic must read this book.
On the second page of his preface, Phayer poses the question "Was Pius XII saintly?" (p. x). Immediately after this, however, he informs the reader that he is not going to answer it, for his book focuses on "the political Pope Pius, not the spiritual Pope Pius" (p. x.). Though Phayer does stay faithful to his mission throughout the twelve chapters of his book, anyone who reads it will find ample evidence that often reflects poorly on the pope's activities during World War II and the Cold War.
Some not previously well-informed readers about this subject might wish to learn more about Pius's career before he became the 260th pope in March 1939 than Phayer provides. Others, who are better informed, might wonder why the author chooses not even to mention some of the most prominent recent books on his subject which often stress Eugenio Pacelli's early career as being formative for his eventual papacy. During those years, Pacelli developed a long and close relationship with Germany, serving as Papal Nuncio to Bavaria...