The Pope at War: The Secret History of Pius XII, Mussolini, and Hitler

by David I. Kertzer

“Woe unto those who have eyes but do not see and ears but do not hear.”

If Pius XII is to be judged for his action in protecting the institutional interests of the Roman Catholic Church at a time of war, there is a good case to made that his papacy was a success.

However, as a moral leader, Pius XII must be judged a failure. He had no love for Hitler, but he was intimidated by him, as he was by Italy’s dictator as well. At a time of great uncertainty, Pius XII clung firmly to his determination to do nothing to antagonize either man. In fulfilling this aim, the pope was remarkably successful.