When the archive relating to the pontificate of Pope Pius XI (1922-1939) was opened in 2006, at the request of Pope Benedict XVI, continues the Prefect, “work was already underway for the progressive preparation of the documentary material of Pius XII, which … But first, we need you to sign in to PBS using one of the services below. Topics Stock Footage, High Definition. Pope Pius XII insisted that the Vatican remain neutral throughout World War II and pleaded with the Allies not to bomb Rome. Rabbi Dalin uses good source material to cite Pope Pius XII remarks regarding race and religious hatred written in the 1920s and early 1930s before Pope Pius XII became Pope. Subsequently Jewish leaders and rabbis begged the Vatican to “silence the bishops” or no Jews would be left to rescue. Twistiest of all, on the eve of World War II, an ailing Pope Pius XI seemed ready to issue an encyclical condemning … cardinal conclave pope . What happened that day—and what Pope Pius XII’s role was in its harrowing events—has been written about, and debated, for decades. Born Eugenio Maria Giuseppe Giovanni Pacelli, Pope Pius XII (00:42) served as Pope of the Catholic Church from 1939 until his death in 1958. Pius XI died in 1938 and Pacelli was made pope. Based on Vatican documents and personal testimonies used for the beatification of Pope Pius XII, this epic film stars acclaimed actor James Cromwell in a powerful movie about the great, often hidden struggle waged by the Pope and many others with him to save the Jews from the Nazis during WWII. James Cromwell. Background. The Testament of Pope Pius XII was published immediately after his death. Myron Taylor, a wealthy American industrialist, served as President Roosevelt’s personal envoy to Pope Pius XII during World War II. But first, we need you to sign in to PBS using one of the services below. The film examines whether Jewish lives would have been saved had … Pope Pius XII. The rise of anti-Semitism around the world in recent years and the upcoming opening of the Vatican archive make Holy Silence timely in a way producer/director/writer Steven Pressman could have never imagined when he embarked on this project. Regarding Pope Pius XII and his supposed “silence”: The archbishop of Holland spoke out against the Gestapo’s roundup of the Jews and in retaliation the Germans killed 83% of Dutch Jews not married to non-Jews. Is Pius XII a saint or a sinner? But not until now, thanks to an extraordinary new book, have we understood what really occurred, and the full extent of the Pope’s activities. Still, with his new film “Holy Silence,” it’s hard not to ponder how different things might have been for Europe’s Jews if not for a few twists of fate. https://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/pope-pius-xii-8275.php A new documentary, out this month, tries to come to terms with the cost of Pope Pius XII’s silence during World War II. Share this video: "A Hand of Peace: Pope Pius XII and the Holocaust" offers valuable insights and contribution to the robust debate surrounding Pope Pius' wartime record. Directed by Christopher Cassel. By creating an account, you acknowledge that PBS may share your information with our member stations and our respective service providers, and that you have read and understand the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. The documentary looks at the papacy of Pius XI and his successor Pius XII and whether the actions of these men could have done anything to stop the deportation and murder of six million Jews. We learn from the film that Pius XI, who had a heart condition, had grown increasingly alarmed over the treatment of Jews in Germany. In January this year, the Miami Jewish Film Festival premiered a documentary entitled "Holy Silence" that also questioned whether Pius XII did … Ambition knows no bounds, nor does corruption in a political thriller. Pope Francis has fast-tracked the opening of the Pius XII archives in order to help clear up the debate over the war-time pope, whose process for sainthood has been temporarily halted. Throw in some anti-Semitism in the Catholic hierarchy, Pacelli’s backdoor deal-making with Italy’s dictator Benito Mussolini and Hitler and you start getting evidence that this new pope could have done more. The archive may shed more light on all this, especially as the Vatican considered Pius XII for canonization to sainthood. Take a fresh look at a topic that has sparked controversy for decades. Pope Pius XII, Actor: Der veruntreute Himmel. Pacelli chose to stay silent. Featuring interviews with world renowned Holocaust historian Sir Martin Gilbert; the Jesuit historian and postulator Fr. 1h 45min. When Pope Benedict XVI opened the archives relating to Pius XI, in 2006, “work was already underway for the progressive preparation of the documentary material of Pius XII… Born in 1876 in Rome as Eugenio Pacelli, Pope Pius XII began his religious life studying philosophy at the Gregorian University. PBS is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization. LaFarge had done a lot of work helping and working with African-American families in the United States. Some Jews have accused Pius XII, who reigned from 1939 to 1958, of being indifferent to the Holocaust and not speaking out against Hitler. In an effort to address the situation, he went around Vatican Secretary of State, then-Cardinal Eugenio Pacelli (and future Pope Pius XII), and enlisted the help of Father John LaFarge, a Jesuit priest and associate editor of America magazine living in the United States, to draft an encyclical to declare that Jews were entitled to equal rights and protections as everyone else. The Vatican Secret Archives documents on the pontificate of Pope Pius XII are shown Feb. 27. In January this year, the Miami Jewish Film Festival premiered a documentary entitled "Holy Silence" that also questioned whether Pius XII did … His play “The Deputy,” about Pope Pius XII and his response to Hitler, elevated documentary theater as an artistic form. Nor should the fact that the Jewish community, and so many of its leaders, praised the Pope’s efforts during and after the Holocaust, and promised never to forget. Pope Pius XII did not protest the deportation of Jews to Auschwitz. Pope Francis has fast-tracked the opening of the Pius XII archives in order to help clear up the debate over the war-time pope, whose process for sainthood has been temporarily halted. Eugenio Maria Giuseppe Pacelli (Pope Pius XII), was born in Rome on March 2, 1876, son of Virginia Graziosi and Filippo Pacelli. An image of Pope Pius XII is seen on a poster for the documentary "Holy Silence." Director. In a generation affected by wars and discords, he upheld the highest ideals of peace and compassion. The film ultimately doesn’t say. In the years immediately following the war, Pius XII … Some of Pope Pacelli’s defenders also voiced scepticism, including Ronald Rychlak, an American law professor, Vatican adviser, and a specialist in the Pius XII controversy. This is a family very much involved in the juridical offices of the Roman Curia. The city is occupied by the Nazis. There is another facet to this story: the circumstances surrounding the death of Pope Pius XII in 1958. It is especially important that we never forget so that the atrocities of the past are never repeated. Pope Pius XII has been accused in the past of not doing all he could to stop Adolf Hitler and save Jews. Voila! As a documentary filmmaker, Steven Pressman avoids asking historians “what-if” questions, since they prefer dealing with known facts. And after the war began, how did the pope respond to the horrors of the Holocaust? Sort by Popularity - Most Popular Movies and TV Shows tagged with keyword "pope-pius-xii" Refine See titles to watch instantly, titles you haven't rated, etc. Read it, use it, and then you decide. Nonetheless, much of what transpired — in regards to documents made available and witness recollection — remain largely a mystery and actions open to interpretation. Pope Francis has fast-tracked the opening of the Pius XII archives in order to help clear up the debate over the war-time pope, whose process for sainthood has been temporarily halted. The documentary does give Pius’ critics a chance to voice their opinions, but one is definitely left with a good impression of Pope Pacelli. With Andreas Berg, Arnas Danusas, Michael Deffert, Dan Nachtrab. Pope Francis, the current Pope, has stated that there has been “some prejudice and exaggeration” in the historical and public debate surrounding Pius XII’s legacy. The film serves as a wonderful primer before the public can learn more about the historical background to the events of that time, which included the Nazi takeover of much of Europe, the Holocaust and World War II. But first, the background to this story. Pope Pius XII and World War II The Documented Truth: A Compilation of International Evidence Revealing the Wartime Acts of the Vatican Compiled and Edited By Gary L. Krupp. Image Source: Wikipedia Steps in the embalming of a cadaver: 1. Richard Hewes. The book has four main themes: (1) Pope Pius XII must be understood in his particular historical context. That draft of the LaFarge encyclical was never made public. In the Words of Pope Pius XII By Tony Odarg on December 19, 2020. The controversy. Pope Pius XII, the leader of the Roman Catholic Church during World War II, learned about the mass murder of Jews early in the war but kept the information a secret in the Vatican. The film Holy Silence, which premiered on January 21 at the Miami Jewish Film Festival, comes less than two months before the scheduled release of the Vatican Apostolic Archives regarding the pontificate of Pius XII in an effort to provide historical context for 17 million pages that will be released. In telling that story, "Holy Silence" focuses on American officials who worked behind the scenes to influence the Vatican's actions. That was the charge made by a German historian Hubert Wolf, who is also a priest, and a team of scholars he assembled to study the recently opened archives of the church leader. In the Words of Pope Pius XII. Are Catholics Morally Obliged to Vote? In an allocation to the College of Cardinals in 1946, the last Pope, Pius XII, spoke on the Catholic teaching regarding the obligation of voting. In 1986, John Paul II visited the Rome synagogue. A Hand of Peace: Pope Pius XII and the Holocaust is an important contribution to the robust and timely debate that has arisen surrounding Pius’s wartime record. Well, it’s complicated. President Franklin Roosevelt hoped that Pope Pius XII would take a strong stand in favor of the Allies during World War II. We can remove the first show in the list to add this one. Copyright © 2021 Public Broadcasting Service (PBS), all rights reserved. Pope Francis has fast-tracked the opening of the Pius XII archives in order to help clear up the debate over the war-time pope, whose process for sainthood has been temporarily halted. Pope Pius XII's cause of canonization was opened on 18 November 1965 by Pope Paul VI during the final session of the Second Vatican Council. 13+. Wrap it up tightly with cellophane tape. Pius XI was on the verge of issuing a papal encyclical against Nazi Germany and anti-Semitism at the time of his death in February 1939. Share this video on FacebookShare this video on Twitter. Films about them are, anyway. This is a family very much involved in the juridical offices of the Roman Curia. Pope Benedict XVI did so on 19 December 2009, simultaneously making the same declaration in regard to Pope John Paul II. The documentary looks at the papacy of Pius XI and his successor Pius XII and whether the actions of these men could have done anything to stop the deportation and murder of six million Jews. Audio languages. In fact, … Pope Pius XII. Rome, 1943. Subtitles. Pope Pius XII’s response to the plight of the Jews was to save as many as possible. 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