Book Tells Vatican Tried To Help World War II Prisoners

New Book by Margherita Marchione Details Vatican Efforts on Behalf of World War II Prisoners of War

 

'Crusade of Charity: Pius XII and POWs' Released on Anniversaries of Birth and Election to Pope of Pius XII - Edward Cardinal Egan and Archbishop Celestino Migliore in Attendance

 

NEW YORK, March 14 /PRNewswire/ -- A small glimpse of the Vatican's efforts to provide comfort and assistance to millions of people during World War II was revealed on March 2 as the Paulist Press released Margherita Marchione's newest book, "Crusade of Charity: Pius XII and POWs."

 

The book, which presents hundreds of letters to the Vatican seeking news and information about prisoners of war and the Vatican's replies, was released on the 130th anniversary of the birth of Pius XII and the 63rd anniversary of his election as pope. The event was held at the Columbus Citizens Foundation in New York City.

 

In attendance at the event were Edward Cardinal Egan, Archbishop of New York; Archbishop Celestino Migliore, Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations; and Rabbi Joseph Ehrenkranz, Executive Director, Center for Christian-Jewish Understanding, Sacred Heart University of Fairfield, Connecticut.

 

The letters cited in "Crusade of Charity" were taken from among nearly 20 million pleas to the Vatican by family members and friends of servicemen and civilians who were missing during World War II. The book also reprints the Vatican's replies to the queries, which often provided detailed information about the location of the prisoners.

 

"The evidence concerning Pius XII's work on behalf of prisoners of war adds a new level of information concerning the charitable work carried out by this dedicated servant of God," Sister Marchione stated. Addressing the invitation-only audience, the 84 year-old historian, Fulbright scholar and member of the Religious Teachers Filippini, Sister Marchione said, "Immediately after World War II began in 1939, the Vatican Information Office established a powerful system for prisoners of war to communicate with their loved ones." She continued, "Under the supervision of His Holiness, families separated by the conflict were contacted. Refugees and the missing, both military men and civilians, as well as other victims of war, were ensured spiritual and material assistance."

 

During and after World War II, Pius XII was widely praised for his efforts on behalf of Jews and others persecuted by the Nazi regime. But Pius XII was later charged with being silent on Nazi atrocities. Rolf Hochhuth's 1963 drama, "The Deputy, A Christian Tragedy," presented a fictionalized view of the pontiff in which he was portrayed as indifferent to and silent about Nazi genocide. And John Cornwell's highly controversial and -- according to Sister Margherita and others -- inaccurate 1999 "Hitler's Pope" contended that Pius XII failed to use the powers of his office adequately to combat Nazi crimes against humanity.

 

Numerous historians have printed articles and books that present the Vatican's efforts in a historically accurate and quite different light from Hochhuth and Cornwell's works. "Crusade of Charity" adds to the scholarship in the field by exploring in depth one facet of the work done by the pope or at his direction on behalf of Nazi victims.

 

Several of those attending the event made remarks before or after the presentation. Cardinal Egan said, "Sister Margherita has had a tremendous dedication to making the truth about Pius XII well known. He was a man of compassion, a man of wisdom and a skilled diplomat dedicated to world peace."

 

Archbishop Migliore noted that in previous publications, Sister Margherita "examined Pius XII's words, and she brilliantly and passionately dispelled the myth of his alleged silence during the Holocaust. With this book, she tackles Pius XII's deeds and actions. And with the patience of Job she brings to the surface an historical sketch of the boundless care shown by Pius XII towards people in need, be they Christian, Jew, or those from other religious persuasions."

 

"There is absolutely no question that Pius and the members of his administration in Rome undertook important initiatives on behalf of all Jews, and not merely Jewish converts to Christianity," said Rabbi Ehrenkranz. "In fact, the word 'silence' should not be included in Jewish Christian conversation about the role of institutional Catholicism during the holocaust."

 

"Crusade of Charity" is Sister Marchione's sixth and culminating book on Pius XII and the role of the Vatican during the War. Previously, she authored "Yours Is a Precious Witness: Memoirs of Jews and Catholics in Wartime Italy," Paulist Press, 1997; "Pope Pius XII: Architect for Peace," Paulist Press, 2000; Consensus and Controversy: Defending Pope Pius XII," Paulist Press, 2002, "Shepherd of Souls: A Pictorial Life of Pope Pius XII," Paulist Press, 2003; "Man of Peace: Pope Pius XII," Paulist Press, 2003; and "Pope Pius XII," Àncora Editrice, 2003.

 

Photos and a copy of Sister Marchione's remarks are available on request to the Columbus Citizens Foundation.

 

  Contacts:  For the Paulist Press: Mary Ann Carey, 201-825-7300,
             mcarey@paulistpress.com
             For the Columbus Citizens Foundation: Andrew Decker,
             212.222.4688, andrew.decker@att.net

 

Source: Columbus Citizens Foundation

 

CONTACT: Paulist Press: Mary Ann Carey, +1-201-825-7300,
mcarey@paulistpress.com; or Andrew Decker For the Columbus Citizens
Foundation, +1-212-222-4688, or andrew.decker@att.net

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