Book Offers Balanced View of Pope Pius XII


		Contact: Clayton Berry Phone: 314.977.7117 berrycl@slu.edu February 21, 2002 Book Offers Balanced View of Pope Pius XII ST. LOUIS -- Pope Pius XII's alleged silence during the Holocaust created a fierce controversy that has lingered for nearly 40 years. In light of such hyped works as John Cornwell's charged "Hitler's Pope," a Saint Louis University historian is striving to set the record straight. José Sánchez's "Pius XII and the Holocaust: Understanding the Controversy," published by Catholic University of America Press, is a highly accessible work that offers a new approach to the subject. His book provides a scholarly and balanced study of the issue. "When looking into this three years ago, I became aware of the great disparity of viewpoints on the issue," Sánchez said. "As a historian, I wanted to get the historical facts right." In his new book, Sánchez discusses the reasons given for Pius' behavior from authors who have contributed to the dispute and evaluates their claims in light of documents published on the matter. He also studies the controversial events that critics have cited to prove their contentions about the Pope, from his role in the negotiation of the German concordat of 1933 to the end of World War II in 1945. Sánchez provides a full examination of Pius' public and private comments on the war and the deaths of European Jews. The first work to clearly and completely summarize the basic charges and defenses, the book has garnered rave reviews. Publisher's Weekly calls it a "refreshing contribution" to the debate and says his treatment is "ideal for students of history and anyone truly interested in an objective analysis." Booklist says the book is "indispensable for, as the subtitle says, understanding the controversy," and America calls the work the "best short introduction to the issues yet published." "Pius XII and the Holocaust: Understanding the Controversy" also has gained praise from academic colleagues, including professor Frank J. Coppa of St. John's University, who calls the book an engrossing read. "The book is well-written and deals with a topic which has hitherto generated more heat than light," he said. Sánchez is a professor of history at Saint Louis University and the author of several works, including "The Spanish Civil War as a Religious Tragedy." Return to the article about Pope Pius XII.