On this day in 1940 the great Pope Pius XII, in a radio broadcast from Vatican City told the entire world that the Nazis were committing atrocities against Catholics and the Jews in Poland. This was one of many, many times the much maligned pontiff cried out against the Nazis. He also, in this year and continuing even after the war, ordered prelates and the clergy to open their doors to Jews and others persecuted by the Germans. His efforts on their behalf at the time were acknowledged by the rabbis of Europe who travelled to Rome in 1947 to thank him publicly and in person. The Chief Rabbi of Rome and his entire family converted to Christ Jesus and became Catholics; the rabbi taking the Christian name of the pope, Eugenio as his own.
Of course, you never hear of these things from the media! You also never hear that the bishops of Germany warned the voters of their country to reject Hitler. The Archbishop of Munich, (and bishops all over Germany) held a public procession of the Blessed Sacrament and Holy relics and statues, including a gigantic crucifix on the eve of the vote to implore God and the people against the Nazis. The old newsreels of this event are easily available. Priests and nuns were treated worse than any other group in the camps. This truth was testified to by many Jews.
One last thing. The Vatican told the world about the concentration camps through diplomatic channels and also on Vatican Radio. Why did we and the allies not bomb the camps? Roosevelt knew about them. Why no action on his part? Everyone knew about the camps. Why did we not at least bomb the railways leading into them? Think about that before you condemn the Church, and study, study, study for yourself.
Remember that you must always question the media. Always question those who write the histories. Where evil churchmen have done terrible things, denounce them most assuredly, but also look for the righteous and those who followed the good Lord and His precepts. There are always three sides to every story… yours, mine and God’s.
