For the Record
(Reprinted from SOBRAN'S
August 2001, page 6)

(Material deleted from the print version for reasons of 
space is contained in square brackets [thus].)

     Nothing, it seems, can dispel the notion that Pope 
Pius XII maintained a "shameful silence" about the 
persecution of Jews during World War II. But Ralph 
McInerny, in his book THE DEFAMATION OF PIUS XII, quotes 
what Jews, prominent and otherwise, were saying at the 
time.

     "Only the Catholic Church protested against the 
Hitlerian onslaught on liberty," said Albert Einstein in 
1940.

     In 1942 London's JEWISH CHRONICLE remarked: "A word 
of sincere and earnest appreciation is due from Jews to 
the Vatican for its intervention in Berlin and Vichy on 
behalf of their tortured co-religionists in France.... 
[It was a step urged, to their honor, by a number of 
Catholics, but for which we may be sure the Holy Father 
himself, with his intense humanity and his clear sighted 
understanding of the true and deadly implications of the 
assaults on the Jewish people, needed no prompting.]"

     Dr. Alexander Shafran, chief rabbi of Romania, wrote 
in 1944: "In these hard times our thoughts turn more than 
ever with respectful gratitude to the Sovereign Pontiff, 
who has done so much for Jews in general.... In our worst 
hours of trial, the generous aid and noble support of the 
Holy See ... has been decisive. It is not easy to find 
the proper words to express the relief and solace which 
the magnanimous gesture of the Supreme Pontiff has given 
us, in offering a large subsidy in order to alleviate the 
sufferings of the deported Jews. Roumanian Jewry will 
never forget these facts of historical importance."

     After the Allies liberated Rome in 1944, a Jewish 
Brigade Group said in its BULLETIN: "To the everlasting 
glory of the people of Rome and the Roman Catholic Church 
we can state that the fate of the Jews was alleviated by 
their truly Christian offers of assistance and shelter. 
Even now, many still remain in the religious homes and 
houses which opened their doors to protect them from 
deportation to certain death."

     One survivor, quoted in a Hebrew daily in Israel, 
said: "If we have been rescued, if Jews are still alive 
in Rome, come with us and thank the Pope in the Vatican."

     A committee of the American Jewish Welfare Board, 
wrote to Pius himself: "We have received reports from our 
military chaplains in Italy of the aid and protection to 
Italian Jews by the Vatican, priests, and church 
institutions during the Nazi occupation of the country. 
We are deeply moved by this extraordinary display of 
Christian love -- the more so as we know the risk 
incurred by those who afforded shelter to Jews.... From 
the bottom of our hearts we send you the assurances of 
undying gratitude."

     The elders of one liberated camp went to Rome and 
presented Pius with a letter: "Now that the victorious 
Allied troops have broken our chains and liberated us 
from captivity and danger, may we, the Jewish internees 
of Ferramonti, be permitted to express our deepest and 
devoted thanks for the comfort and help which Your 
Holiness deigned to grant us with fatherly concern and 
infinite kindness throughout our years of internment and 
persecution.... In doing so Your Holiness has as the 
first and highest authority on earth fearlessly raised 
his universally respected voice, in the face of our 
powerful enemies, in order to defend openly our rights to 
the dignity of man.... When we were threatened with 
deportation to Poland in 1942, Your Holiness extended his 
fatherly hand to protect us, and stopped the transfer of 
the Jews interned in Italy, thereby saving us from almost 
certain death. With deep confidence and hope that the 
work of Your Holiness may be crowned with further 
success, we beg to express our heartfelt thanks while we 
pray to the Almighty: May Your Holiness reign for many 
years on this Holy See and exert your beneficent 
influence over the destiny of the nations."

     A few months later the World Jewish Congress sent a 
telegram to the Holy See thanking it for its protection 
"under difficult conditions to the persecuted Jews in 
German dominated Hungary."

     The chief rabbi of Jerusalem, Isaac Herzog, said: "I 
thank the Pope and the Church from the bottom of my heart 
for all the help they have afforded."

     Moshe Sharett, a leading Zionist, summed up his 
personal interview with Pius: "I told him that my first 
duty was to thank him, and through him, the Catholic 
Church, on behalf of the Jewish public, for all they had 
done in the various countries to rescue Jews, to save 
children, and Jews in general. We are deeply grateful to 
the Catholic Church for what she did in those countries 
to help save our brothers."

     Dr. Leon Kubowitzky of the World Jewish Council 
offered a large monetary donation to the Vatican "in 
recognition of the work of the Holy See in rescuing Jews 
from Fascist and Nazi persecutions."

     Raffaele Cantoni of Italy's Jewish Welfare Committee 
said: "The Catholic Church and the papacy have given 
proof that they have saved as many Jews as they could."

     These noble and moving words require little comment. 
I record them here for the honor of Pius, the Catholic 
Church, and the good men who uttered them.

[ENDS]


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