The Life and Pontificate of Pope Pius XII

Eugenio Pacelli, Pope Pius XII, is one of the most studied but least understood popes of the twentieth century while his pontificate remains the most turbulent and controversial. Although there is a general consensus that he faced serious problems during his tenurefascist aggression, the Second World War, the Nazi genocide of the Jews, the march of communism, and the Cold Warthere is disagreement on his response to these developments. Applauded by some as an apostle for peace for his attempt to prevent the outbreak of war, he has been denounced by others as an advocate of appeasement for this same effort. Praised by both Christian and Jews for his Crusade of Charity during the war, he was denounced by many for his silence during the Holocaust. These conflicting interpretations, dubbed the Pius Wars, are often narrow in focus, lack objectivity, and have shed more heat than light.