This is an interesting memoir of an unofficial
American diplomat in the Vatican during World War II.
I think book shows that Pius XII was NOT "Hitler's Pope."
The pope had no substantial army. He had to deal with
the demands of conflicting nations: the allies on the one hand
and the axis on the other. One might even argue that the pope
was "Stalin's pope" or "Roosevelt's pope." Franklin Roosevelt wanted
to establish diplomatic relations with the Vatican, but could
not do so officially, due to oppostion by Congress who would
most likely cry "separation of church and state." So Roosevelt
established an unofficial diplomatic position. In one instance the
pope and Roosevelt agreed to take "parallel" paths to lobby Mussolini
not to enter the war on the side of Hitler. The attempt was
unsuccessful. When the Germans invaded the Soviet Union, the pope
supported Roosevelt's effort to aid the Soviet Union, by issuing a
declaration through American church officials. So in that sense I
would
argue that you could call Piux XII "Stalin's pope" or "Roosevelt's
pope."
The author was not Roman Catholic. He was a "lobbyist" for the
American
view to the pope. Tittman followed the Roosevelt policy which was to
encourage the pope to denounce the Nazi's by name. This the pope never
did. Hence the charge of the pope's "silence." The pope did denounce
tyranny in general. He explained to Tittman that if he had to
denounce tyranny in specifics, he would also have to denounce the
Soviets who were the allies of the American. This would not go over
well with Roosevelt who had a glaring blind spot for the Soviets. In
addition if
the pope were to denounce the Nazi's by name, he would possibly make
the suffering of people living under Nazi tyranny even worse.
Tittman writes on page 122, that he believes that the pope took the
better course and saved lives by "silent" than speaking out. A good
book to
read in conjunction with this book is YOURS IS A PRECIOUS WITNESS by
Sister Marchione. She records the unheralded efforts of the Italians
to save the lives of Jews. Sister Marchione writes that convents and
monasteries were opened to refugees and this would not have been
possible without the pope's permission. In other words the pope
probably did more good by being "silent" and working behind the scenes
than by making a public spectacle of denouncing the Nazi's. Personally
I think the critics of the pope's "silence" are "Monday morning
quarterback's" writing from the comfort of their own homes. They
also strike me as people with a self congratulatory political agenda.
The book also provides an insight into the naivete of Franklin
Roosevelt in regards to the Soviet Union. He was either stupid of
willingly blind to Soviet tyranny and religious persecution. I think
the Vatican officials had a more realistic view in viewing BOTH they
Soviets and the Nazis as tyrants. I think a book which ties in with
Roosevlet's political naivete or dishonesty see THE POLITICALLY
INCORRECT GUIDE TO AMERICAN HISTORY by Woods. This was book was
published around 2004. I understand it contains quotes illustrating
Roosevelt's blind spot for the Soviet tyranny. I heard the author of
this book on the radio. The quotes have to be heard or seen to be
believed.
For the record, I am NOT Roman Catholic. But I think the pope has
been unfairly attacked for his "silence" during WW II. Perhaps he
could have done a better job. But I wonder if these critics could
have saved as many lives?
# posted by GuyTak @ 5:58 PM
