Deutsche Welle reports that the Vatican will open archival files from the start of the Nazi period.
The Vatican is planning to open its archives relating to interactions with Nazi Germany in the years leading up to World War II.
The archives cover the period from 1922 to 1939, when Eugenio Pacelli, who later became Pope Pius XII, was the Vatican?s ambassador to Berlin.
Starting on Feb. 15, the church will open the archives to scholars who make a formal request to view them, according to an announcement released this weekend. [continue]
Recently we've had books like Hitler's Pope, claiming that Pope Pius XII didn't do enough to help the Jews during the war. On the other hand, there are stories like Miriam Zolli's, and comments from Rabbi David Dalin, who says "Pius XII saved more Jewish lives than any other person, including Raoul Wallenberg and Oskar Schindler."
Well. I suppose there will soon be more to read about Pius XII, once scholars wade through that archival material.
Related links:
Vatican to reveal Pope Pius papers
Vatican to open wartime archives
Debunking an Anti-Catholic Calumny
Update:
Vatican reveals wartime secrets - February, 2003