Vatican secretary of state defends Pope Pius XII's wartime actions

Published: 2007-01-29

ROME (CNS) -- Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, the Vatican secretary of state, strongly defended Pope Pius XII's wartime actions and said he had coordinated church efforts that saved the lives of many Jews. Cardinal Bertone spoke Jan. 24 at the presentation of the Italian translation of the book "The Righteous: The Unsung Heroes of the Holocaust," by Martin Gilbert. The cardinal said the book illustrated how people of many faiths, including Christians and Muslims, had risked their lives to save Jews from Nazi persecution and death in concentration camps. He said the Catholic Church as an institution played a part in this effort, working under Pope Pius and following his directives. The church aided all during World War II, but specifically sought to defend and save persecuted Jews, he said. "They were to be helped in any way possible. This is the premise on which every action of the pope and his aides was founded, as is demonstrated by the existing documentation," Cardinal Bertone said.

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