was pope pious XII ineffectual, even complict, when the Jewss in WW II were being shipped off?

Answer 1

No serious objective scholar contests the evidence that Pius XII was not only favourable to the Nazis but had a strong personal relationship with Adolf Hitler since he was his bishop in Munich and met with him on a regular basis.

In fact, contrary to woeful evidence used to claim Pius was “anti nazi” there is strong evidence that the 60+ cases of Vatican gold Pacelli (Pope Pius) took with him to Munich in 1917 help fund the formation of the Nazi Party and the appointment of Hitler himself!
See:
http://one-faith-of-god.org/final_testament/end_of_darkness/evil/evil_0200.htm

In fact, let us look at Pacelli’s own words about his opinion of Jews in 1919 in a report back to the Pope:

“An army of employees were dashing to and fro, giving out orders, waving bits of paper, and in the midst of all this, a gang of young women, of dubious appearance, Jews like all the rest of them, hanging around in all the offices with provocative demeanor and suggestive smiles. The boss of this female gang was Levien's mistress, a young Russian woman, a Jew and a divorcee, who was in charge. And it was to her that the nunciature was obliged to pay homage in order to proceed. This Levien is a young man, about 30 or 35, also Russian and a Jew. Pale, dirty, with vacant eyes, hoarse voice, vulgar, repulsive, with a face that is both intelligent and sly." Archbishop Pacelli (Pope Pius).

Far from taking any effective action to help Jews, upon the entry of the Nazis to Rome in 1943, the Germans did commence the deportation of over 1,000 Jews who lived near the Vatican. That in a unique gesture, the German ambassador in Rome, fearing an anti-Pope backlash from the general Italian population, pleaded with the Pope on behalf of Adolf Hitler to issue a public protest to at least indicate the existence of some holiness claimed to be possessed by the office of Pope.. That no other historical record can be found where Hitler, or any of his officials did grant any person, official or organisation the right to criticize it, except for the Vatican. In spite of this unique and extraordinary open invitation by Hitler to criticize him, Pope Pius XII refused and the Jews were sent by cattle cars to Auschwitz for burning. To this day, the Vatican has neither admitted this inhumanity, nor apologized to the 15 survivors.

So, I’d question any Catholic propaganda claiming the contrary that Pius was anti-Nazi or pro-Jewish. All evidence, all credible evidence points to the contrary.

Answer 2

No serious scholar contests the evidence that Pius XII took direct and indirect measures to save Jews from the Nazi death machine.

At the start of World War II, Pope Pius XII’s first encyclical was so anti-Hitler that the Royal Air Force and the French air force dropped 88,000 copies of it over Germany. Here is a link to the Summi Pontificatus: Encyclical of Pope Pius XII on the Unity of Human Society, October 20, 1939: http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/pius_xii/encyclicals/documents/hf_p-xii_enc_20101939_summi-pontificatus_en.html

Unfortunately the Soviet Union and others had been trying to convince the world that the Catholic Church was pro-Nazi since the death of Pope Pius in 1958. Here are some sources:
+ The KGB made corrupting the Church a priority: http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=YTUzYmJhMGQ5Y2UxOWUzNDUyNWUwODJiOTEzYjY4NzI=
+ The KGB campaign against Pius XII: http://www.the-tidings.com/2007/021607/difference.htm
+ Pius XII and the Jews: http://web.archive.org/web/20010919100700/http://www.weeklystandard.com/magazine/mag_6_23_01/dalin_bkart_6_23_01.asp
+ http://www.columbia.edu/cu/augustine/a/ww2jews.html

See also "The Myth of Hitler’s Pope: How Pope Pius XII Rescued Jews From the Nazis" by David G. Dalin which has compiled further overwhelming proof of Pope Pius Xii"s friendship for the Jews beginning long before he became pope.

With love in Christ.

Answer 3

Because Pious XII didn't give a damn about the Jews. Pius was more concerned with his own flock and didn't give an f if all the Jews in Europe were wiped out. An for complicity - - - I woulld say yes simply by not taking a firm stand against the Nazi's - - - and it should be kept in mind that The Nazi s did a lot of horrible things to the Catholic in Germany and Pius did little more than protest, feebly, mostly dending meek mild letters that were unread and discarded..

It should also be noted that The Catholic Church never took a stand against slavery in America during the 1800s.

Peace....

Answer 4

Yes he was complicit. And it seems that after the war, he ran his own little underground railroad between Rome and Argentina spiriting people like Eichmann out of the hands of the war tribunals. At least John Paul II attempted to appologize, but it was too little too late. I think more will come out in years to come. It is a terrible smudge on the face of an already beleagured Catholic Church. Several authors have written some great novels about this subject of late - particularly former CNN correspondant Daniel Silva. His Gabriel Allon series deals with it quite extensively - as does a new book The Last Van Gogh. Very interesting subject to read about. I have enjoyed all the books. Pax - C

Answer 5

That would seem to be the verdict of history. But do not be harsh, other courses of action were probably worse.

Answer 6

*Is Catholic*

He was a great man and a great friend to the Jewish people.

IMACATHOLIC2 above is right.