Pope Pius XII Knew About Nazi Genocide, Letter Shows

Newly discovered correspondence suggests that Pope Pius XII, during World War II, had detailed information from a trusted German Jesuit, indicating that up to 6,000 Jews and Poles were being gassed daily in German-occupied Poland.

This documentation contradicts the Holy See's argument that it couldn't confirm diplomatic reports of Nazi atrocities to denounce them. I Photo: Michael Pitcairn / Modifications made by Rossel44 & Donrdg54 / Wikimedia Commons

This documentation contradicts the Holy See's argument that it couldn't confirm diplomatic reports of Nazi atrocities to denounce them, as reported by Nicole Winfield for the Associated Press (AP).

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

Historians have long been divided on Pius' record, with supporters insisting that he employed quiet diplomacy to save Jewish lives, while critics argue that he remained silent as the Holocaust continued.

Corriere is reproducing a letter from Reverend Lothar Koenig, dated December 14, 1942, addressed to Pius' secretary, Reverend Robert Leiber.

This letter is part of an upcoming book about the newly released files from Pius' pontificate by Giovanni Coco, a researcher and archivist in the Vatican's Apostolic Archives.

Coco informed Corriere that the letter was significant because it represented detailed correspondence regarding the Nazi extermination of Jews, including the use of ovens, from an informed church source in Germany who was part of the Catholic anti-Hitler resistance.

This group was able to convey otherwise secret information to the Vatican.

The letter, written in German, begins with "Dear friend" and goes on to report that the Nazis were killing up to 6,000 Jews and Poles daily in Rava Ruska, a town in pre-war Poland now located in Ukraine, and transporting them to the Belzec death camp.

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