Vatican to Reveal Secrets of World War II?

Pope Francis announced on Monday, March 4, that the Vatican will open the secret documents and archives from the papacy of Pius XII next March. These documents may shed light on the actions and policies of the Catholic Church during World War II. Historians and researchers have sought to examine the Vatican's stance and that of Pope Pius XII (who led the Catholic Church from 1939 to 1958) for decades. What draws more attention are the events related to World War II, particularly the accusations regarding Pius XII's 'ineffective intervention' in the Holocaust. Critics of the Catholic Church and some Jewish organizations have criticized the Vatican's handling of this genocide, describing it as a form of 'passive complicity.' Pope Francis stated, 'I have decided that the documents and archives from the papacy of Pius XII will be opened on March 2, 2020.' This date coincides with the 81st anniversary of Eugenio Pacelli's election as pope, who chose the name Pius XII. Pope Francis added, 'The Church has no fear of history' and reminded that Pius XII was the leader of the Catholic Church during one of the darkest and most tragic years of the twentieth century. He said, 'With a full understanding that serious and fair historical research, considering difficult historical periods, unfortunate decisions, and Christian and human responsibility, will lead to an assessment of the significant moments of this pope's life, I have made this decision.' In a February 1940 image, Pope Pius XII is seen meeting with U.S. Special Representative Myron C. Taylor. According to a report by Agence France-Presse, many historians believe that Pope Pius XII could have condemned the genocide of Jews by the Nazi regime more clearly and seriously. However, he did not do so due to diplomatic considerations and to avoid endangering the lives of Catholics in areas controlled by Germany and its allies. Pope Francis acknowledged that Pius XII's decisions during World War II may be seen by some as 'ambiguous and akin to silence.' However, he continued that Pius XII 'kept alive small flames of humanitarian initiatives in a time of darkness and cruelty, through a hidden but active diplomacy.' The Vatican had officially declared neutrality during World War II. Some historians argue that Pius XII's actions in sheltering many Jews in Italy in monasteries and church buildings saved tens of thousands of lives. Greek director Costa-Gavras, inspired by the play 'The Deputy,' made the film 'Amen.' in 2002, portraying Pius XII as a 'weak pope.' Some believe that the common perception of the Vatican's 'passivity' regarding the atrocities of World War II is partly a product of a play called 'The Deputy' by German author Rolf Hochhuth, which premiered in 1963. Despite some twentieth-century popes, including Pope John Paul II, being canonized, the canonization process for Pius XII has stalled. Earlier, in 2008, retired Pope Benedict XVI, in a sermon marking the fiftieth anniversary of Pius XII's death, expressed his support for the canonization of his predecessor, stating, 'I pray that the process of beatification and canonization of Pope Pius XII proceeds well.' However, this process has completely halted due to the controversial nature of Pius XII's decisions during World War II.