Hitler's Pope

About “Hitler's Pope”

Hitler's Pope is a 1999 book by British journalist John Cornwell that analyzes the actions of Eugenio Pacelli, who became Pope Pius XII. The book focuses on Pacelli's role before and during the Nazi era, particularly his involvement in the 1933 Reichskonkordat, a treaty between the Vatican and Nazi Germany. Cornwell criticizes Pius XII for not doing enough or speaking out against the Holocaust. He argues that Pius's career, from his position as nuncio to Germany to his role as Pope, was driven by a desire to strengthen the power of the Vatican. According to Cornwell, Pius prioritized this goal over opposing the Nazis. The book also claims that Pius was antisemitic, which influenced his lack of concern for European Jews. (Summary adapted from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.)