Pope Pius XII writes on the help he gave to Jews
and which was acknowledged at the time by many Jewish communities. Translation of an extract from a letter to Konrad Graf von Preysing, Bishop of Berlin, dated 30 April 1943. Taken from Volume 2 of the 12 volumes of Acts and Documents of the Holy See relating to the Second World War. Lettres of Pius XII to the German Bishops.
To the Catholic non-Aryans as well as to those of the Jewish faith, the Holy See has offered that charity, which is only within its powers, that are economic and moral. One must say it has required on the part of the executive management of our leading relief organisations, a maximum amount of patience and self-renunciation to meet the expectations and the requirements of those seeking help, as well as to cope with the emerging diplomatic difficulties. About the very large sums, we have provided in American currency for the sea voyages of emigrants, we do not want to talk; We have done this happily, because the people were in need; We have done this for the love of God and man and have done these good works, not wishing for earthly credit. After all, the Holy See has also received warmest appreciation for her rescue work from Jewish centres. (Note at bottom of page- namely, the communities of Bolivia, South Africa, Chile, the Union of Orthodox Rabbis of America and Canada, the Chief Rabbi of Zagreb among others)
We have spoken out in our Christmas message (See below) against the measures, which are being currently being taken within the area of German power against non-Aryan. It was short, but it was well understood. That the non-Aryan or half-Aryan Catholics, are children of the church as all others are, that they receive now with the collapse of their outward existence and in their psychological distress, the heightened concern of Our Fatherly love and care, we need not only to assert. Given the current state of things, we can unfortunately give no other effective assistance other than our prayer. But we are determined however, depending on what the circumstances demand or allow, to raise anew our voice for them.
From the persistent loyalty of German Catholics to their Faith and their Church, we have received in these days very full consolation.
The New York Times on the Christmas Message
The Christmas Message- 1942
The relevant passage- also the material on juridical order must have been considered provocative.
Should they not rather, over the ruins of a social order which has given such tragic proof of its ineptitude as a factor for the good of the people, gather together the hearts of all those who are magnanimous and upright, in the solemn vow not to rest until in all peoples and all nations of the earth a vast legion shall be formed of those handfuls of men who, bent on bringing back society to its center of gravity, which is the law of God, aspire to the service of the human person and of his common life ennobled in God.
Mankind owes that vow to the countless dead who lie buried on the field of battle: The sacrifice of their lives in the fulfillment of their duty is a holocaust offered for a new and better social order. Mankind owes that vow to the innumerable sorrowing host of mothers, widows and orphans who have seen the light, the solace and the support of their lives wrenched from them. Mankind owes that vow to those numberless exiles whom the hurricane of war has torn from their native land and scattered in the land of the stranger; who can make their own the lament of the Prophet: "Our inheritance is turned to aliens; our house to strangers." Mankind owes that vow to the hundreds of thousands of persons who, without any fault on their part, sometimes only because of their nationality or race, have been consigned to death or to a slow decline. Mankind owes that vow to the many thousands of non- combatants, women, children, sick and aged, from whom aerial war-fare -- whose horrors we have from the beginning frequently denounced -- has without discrimination or through inadequate precautions, taken life, goods, health, home, charitable refuge, or house of prayer. Mankind owes that vow to the flood of tears and bitterness, to the accumulation of sorrow and suffering, emanating from the murderous ruin of the dreadful conflict and crying to Heaven to send down the Holy Spirit to liberate the world from the inundation of violence and terror.
To the Catholic non-Aryans as well as to those of the Jewish faith, the Holy See has offered that charity, which is only within its powers, that are economic and moral. One must say it has required on the part of the executive management of our leading relief organisations, a maximum amount of patience and self-renunciation to meet the expectations and the requirements of those seeking help, as well as to cope with the emerging diplomatic difficulties. About the very large sums, we have provided in American currency for the sea voyages of emigrants, we do not want to talk; We have done this happily, because the people were in need; We have done this for the love of God and man and have done these good works, not wishing for earthly credit. After all, the Holy See has also received warmest appreciation for her rescue work from Jewish centres. (Note at bottom of page- namely, the communities of Bolivia, South Africa, Chile, the Union of Orthodox Rabbis of America and Canada, the Chief Rabbi of Zagreb among others)
We have spoken out in our Christmas message (See below) against the measures, which are being currently being taken within the area of German power against non-Aryan. It was short, but it was well understood. That the non-Aryan or half-Aryan Catholics, are children of the church as all others are, that they receive now with the collapse of their outward existence and in their psychological distress, the heightened concern of Our Fatherly love and care, we need not only to assert. Given the current state of things, we can unfortunately give no other effective assistance other than our prayer. But we are determined however, depending on what the circumstances demand or allow, to raise anew our voice for them.
From the persistent loyalty of German Catholics to their Faith and their Church, we have received in these days very full consolation.
The New York Times on the Christmas Message
The Christmas Message- 1942
The relevant passage- also the material on juridical order must have been considered provocative.
Should they not rather, over the ruins of a social order which has given such tragic proof of its ineptitude as a factor for the good of the people, gather together the hearts of all those who are magnanimous and upright, in the solemn vow not to rest until in all peoples and all nations of the earth a vast legion shall be formed of those handfuls of men who, bent on bringing back society to its center of gravity, which is the law of God, aspire to the service of the human person and of his common life ennobled in God.
Mankind owes that vow to the countless dead who lie buried on the field of battle: The sacrifice of their lives in the fulfillment of their duty is a holocaust offered for a new and better social order. Mankind owes that vow to the innumerable sorrowing host of mothers, widows and orphans who have seen the light, the solace and the support of their lives wrenched from them. Mankind owes that vow to those numberless exiles whom the hurricane of war has torn from their native land and scattered in the land of the stranger; who can make their own the lament of the Prophet: "Our inheritance is turned to aliens; our house to strangers." Mankind owes that vow to the hundreds of thousands of persons who, without any fault on their part, sometimes only because of their nationality or race, have been consigned to death or to a slow decline. Mankind owes that vow to the many thousands of non- combatants, women, children, sick and aged, from whom aerial war-fare -- whose horrors we have from the beginning frequently denounced -- has without discrimination or through inadequate precautions, taken life, goods, health, home, charitable refuge, or house of prayer. Mankind owes that vow to the flood of tears and bitterness, to the accumulation of sorrow and suffering, emanating from the murderous ruin of the dreadful conflict and crying to Heaven to send down the Holy Spirit to liberate the world from the inundation of violence and terror.
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