Pius XII and the Holocaust

Outline:

A.The fate of 400,000 Hungarian Jews.  Background to Hungary’s fall.  The Brandt mission is aborted by British.  Rotta:  rumors of “an annihilation camp.”  The lesson:  the effort is rewarded by a forest in Israel (800,000 trees planted in 1958) honoring Pius XII.  Could he not have done more?  Could we have done more?

B.  The efforts of Monsignor Hugh O’Flaherty.  Early career.  74,000 POW’s escape.  Derry-O’Flaherty team.  “In a deeply moving tribute, the pope thanked them for their assistance given to the Jews, ‘who are particularly dear to my heart.’”

C.  Papamania.  Hochhuth. 

Bibliography: 

J. P. Gallagher, Scarlet Pimpernel of the Vatican. 1967

Sam Derry, Rome Escape Line.  1960.

Justus George Lawler, Popes and Politics. 2002.

Ronald Rychlak, Hilter, the War and the Pope. 2002.