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Coverage dated September 15, 2023 to September 16, 2023

Wartime Pope Pius XII Knew About Holocaust, Letter Suggests

Headline from Wall Street Journal

The discovery in recently opened Vatican archives sharpens the debate over Pius’s silence on the Nazi genocide of the Jews.

Wall Street Journal's own description from its feed. We collect headlines and these descriptions, not full articles; read the original reporting below.

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Reports & sources

8 articles, oldest first.

  1. The Times of Israel

    New letter reveals Pope Pius XII had detailed information on Nazi killing of Jews (opens The Times of Israel)

    Published

    The Times of Israel's feed description

    Vatican archive documents on mass killings in Poland undercut Holy See’s argument that it couldn’t denounce Holocaust as it was unable to verify diplomatic reports

  2. The Guardian

    Letter suggests Pope Pius XII knew of mass gassings of Jews and Poles in 1942 (opens The Guardian)

    Published

    The Guardian's feed description

    Letter from church source in anti-Hitler resistance reporting 6,000 daily killings undercuts Vatican’s claims of lack of knowledge

  3. New York Times

    Letter Found in Vatican Archives Confirms Church Was Told About Death Camps (opens New York Times)

    Published

    New York Times's feed description

    The newly discovered letter, written by a German Jesuit to Pope Pius XII’s personal secretary, suggests that the pope knew of Hitler’s atrocities but chose to remain silent.

  4. Wall Street Journal

    Wartime Pope Pius XII Knew About Holocaust, Letter Suggests (opens Wall Street Journal)

    Published

    Wall Street Journal's feed description

    The discovery in recently opened Vatican archives sharpens the debate over Pius’s silence on the Nazi genocide of the Jews.

  5. NBC News

    Letter showing Pope Pius XII had detailed information from German Jesuit about Nazi holocaust (opens NBC News)

    Published

    NBC News's feed description

    The documentation from the Vatican archives, published this weekend in Italian daily Corriere della Sera, is likely to further fuel the debate about Pius’ legacy and his now-stalled beatification campaign.

  6. CNN

    Wartime Pope Pius XII probably knew about Holocaust early on, letters show (opens CNN)

    Published

    CNN's feed description

    Wartime Pope Pius XII knew details about the Nazi attempt to exterminate Jews in the Holocaust as early as 1942, according to a letter found in the Vatican archives that conflicts with the Holy See’s official position at the time that the information it had was vague and unverified.

  7. New Hampshire Union Leader

    Letter shows Pope Pius XII probably knew about Holocaust early on (opens New Hampshire Union Leader)

    Published

    New Hampshire Union Leader's feed description

    Wartime Pope Pius XII knew details about the Nazi attempt to exterminate Jews in the Holocaust as early as 1942, according to a letter found in the Vatican archives that

  8. Insider

    New Vatican letter suggests Pope Pius XII knew about the Holocaust as early as 1942 (opens Insider)

    Published

    Insider's feed description

    A letter found in the Vatican describes Nazi mass killings of Jewish and Polish people, suggesting the Pope likely knew about the Holocaust.

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