A Cross Too Heavy Pope Pius XII and the Jews of Europe

The papacy of Pius XII (1939-1958) has been a source of near-constant criticism and debate since his death half a century ago. Powerful myths have been created about him, and central to them is the dispute surrounding his alleged silence during the years of the Holocaust. By examining the little-studied pre-papal life of Eugenio Pacelli, much can be found to help understand his policies, actions, and statements during the war. Drawing carefully and comprehensively on the historical record, Paul O'Shea convincingly demonstrates that Pius was neither an anti-Semitic villain nor a "lamb without stain." Ultimately, Pius's unfortunate categorization of the Jews as "lesser victims" points to the moral crisis within many parts of the fractured Christian Commonwealth as well as the personal culpability of Pacelli, the man and pope.

Paul O'Shea is an Australian historian and educator whose research has focused on Pope Pius XII and Catholic responses to the Holocaust. His PhD in this area was completed at Macquarie University, Sydney. A founding member of the Australian Institute of Holocaust and Genocide Studies, he lives in Sydney and is currently Dean of Mission at Rosebank College, Sydney.