Figure 1.--Here a little Italian boy kisses Pope Piys XII's ring. We are not sure whre they are, perhaps Castel Gandolfo, the summer residence. The portrait is undated, but would probably have been taken about 1955.

Pope Pius XII is most associated with the Church during World War II and the difficult choices he faced. The Pope, however, was a long serving pope and reigned more than a decade after the War. He was involved in matters concerning the aftermath of the war as well as the ensuing Cold War. This involved both church goverance as well as humanitarian matters. The most pressing issue after the War was the needs of people in war-torn Europe, both the displaced and people in need that still were in their damaged communities. Pius also moved to rcognize and elevate clerics who resisted NAZI totalitarianism. Several new cardinals were elevated to the College of Cardinals (1946). They included German Bishops Joseph Frings of Cologne, August von Galen of Münster, and Konrad von Preysing of Berlin. And in occupied countries they included: Dutch Archbishop Johannes de Jong, Hungarian Bishop József Mindszenty, Polish Archbishop Adam Stefan Sapieha, and French Archbishop Jules-Géraud Saliège. Other important appointmnts were Italian Papal diplomat Angelo Roncalli (later Pope John XXIII) and Polish Archbishop Stefan Wyszyński (1953). Wyszyński was valiantly resisting totalitarrian Communism. After Europe began to recover one of his major efforts were steps to internationlize the Church. Before World War II, The Church while having spread around the world (especilly Africa, Latin Aamerica, and the United States, was still run by European prelates. Italian prelkates were especially important. Pius ordered the recognition of local cultures as on a par with European culture. [Evangelii praecones, p. 56.] His language while still reflected older values and concepts, wording like 'to forward her work among the heathen multitudes'. He expressed support for the decolonization process (1956). [Ventresca, p.282-83] He continued the process begun earlier of supporting increased local administration in Church affairs. Throughout the 1950s the hierarchies in Africa and other regions were granted independence. As part of that process he named as cardinals Thomas Tien of China (1946) and Valerian Gracias of India (1953). They were the first locally born Catholics from their countries to sit in the College of Cardinals. [Ventresca, p. 284.] Pius was especially concerned with German affairs, presumably in reognition of the terrible acts committed by the Germans. He wanted to make post-War Germany a priority. He wanted to involve the Church with the refugee crisis, poverty, hunger and disease, the fate of POWs, accused war criminals, and the political futuure. He also addressed the communal life of German Catholicism. [Ventresca, p.240.] Another concern was the Cold War and the spread of atheist, totalitarian Communism in Western Europe and the Americas. This was one reason he was interested in post-War recovery. He believed with some accuracy that deprivation fuelled political radicalism. Here he became involved with Italian politics. Both Italy abd France had large Communist parties and there was a danger that Communist parties there might win election. He used Catholic Action, an organization of Catholic laity, to mobilise the Catholic vote against the Communists and other leftist parties.

World War II

Pope Pius XII is most associated with the Church during World War II and the difficult choices he faced. It was the largest and most terrible war in human history, The Axi made the destruction of civilians an actual war goal.

Long Serving

Pope Pius, however, was a long serving pope and reigned more than a decade after the War. He was involved in matters concerning the aftermath of the war as well as the ensuing Cold War. This involved both church goverance as well as humanitarian matters.

Humanitarian Crisis

The most pressing issue after the War was the needs of people in war-torn Europe, both the displaced and people in need that still were in their damaged communities. The situation was even more serious than after World War I because of the brutal Axis actioins targetting civilkians.

Resisting Totalitarianism

During World War II, the NAZIs severely percecuted the Church, targetting many orirests. After the War, the Soiviet Union expanded its attacks ob the Church from the Sioviet Unioin to occupied Eastern Europe. Pius moved to rcognize and elevate clerics who had resisted NAZI totalitarianism and were now resisting Communism. Several new cardinals were elevated to the College of Cardinals (1946). They included German Bishops Joseph Frings of Cologne, August von Galen of Münster, and Konrad von Preysing of Berlin. And in occupied countries they included: Dutch Archbishop Johannes de Jong, Hungarian Bishop József Mindszenty, Polish Archbishop Adam Stefan Sapieha, and French Archbishop Jules-Géraud Saliège. Other important appointmnts were Italian Papal diplomat Angelo Roncalli (later Pope John XXIII) and Polish Archbishop Stefan Wyszyński (1953). Wyszyński was valiantly resisting totalitarrian Communism. Another concern was the Cold War and the spread of atheist, totalitarian Communism in Western Europe and the Americas. The Church issued the Decree against Communism, declaring that Catholics who profess Communist doctrine were to be excommunicated as apostates from the Christian faith. The spread of Communism was one reason he was interested in post-War recovery. He believed with some accuracy that deprivation fuelled political radicalism.

Internationalizing the Church

After Europe began to recover one of his major efforts were steps to internationlize the Church. Before World War II, The Church while having spread around the world (especilly Africa, Latin Aamerica, and the United States, was still run by European prelates. Italian prelkates were especially important. Pius ordered the recognition of local cultures as on a par with European culture. [Evangelii praecones, p. 56.] His language while still reflected older values and concepts, wording like 'to forward her work among the heathen multitudes'. He expressed support for the decolonization process (1956). [Ventresca, p.282-83] He continued the process begun earlier of supporting increased local administration in Church affairs. Throughout the 1950s the hierarchies in Africa and other regions were granted independence. As part of that process he named as cardinals Thomas Tien of China (1946) and Valerian Gracias of India (1953). They were the first locally born Catholics from their countries to sit in the College of Cardinals. [Ventresca, p. 284.]

German Affairs

Pius was especially concerned with German affairs, presumably in reognition of the terrible acts committed by the Germans. In addution, Germany was ground zero for the Cold War. He wanted to make post-War Germany a priority. He wanted to involve the Church with the refugee crisis, poverty, hunger and disease, the fate of POWs, accused war criminals, and the political futuure. And of course East Germany was noiw giverned by Communidts pursuing an atheism campaign. He also addressed the communal life of German Catholicism. [Ventresca, p.240.]

Italy

Italy has always been a special concern for the papacy. Of course until very recenbtly, almost all popes were Italian. And the Vatiacn is located in Rome. The Pope is the Bishop of Rome with pastoral duties in Rome. We see him ministering to children. Pope Pius became deeply involved in Itlalian politics. He was rather distrustful of Alcide de Gasperi and Italy's Christian Democrats, the Church's most natural political ally. He considering the Party, however, too indecisive and fractious. And he was wary of reformist elements within the Party such as the Sicilian priest Luigi Sturzo. Both Italy and France had large Communist parties. There was a very real danger that Communist parties there might win national elections. The Pope used Catholic Action, an organization of Catholic laity, to mobilise the Catholic vote against the Communists and other allied leftist parties.

Source

Encylicals: Evangelii praecones, p. 56

Ventresca, Robert. Soldier of Christ.

Created: 6:22 AM 8/15/2017
Last updated: 12:01 PM 9/21/2020