Pope Pius XII closer to canonization. On Saturday, December 19th, Benedict XVI authorized the decree that recognizes the heroic virtue of Pope Pius XII, pushing him one step closer to beatification. …More
Pope Pius XII closer to canonization.
On Saturday, December 19th, Benedict XVI authorized the decree that recognizes the heroic virtue of Pope Pius XII, pushing him one step closer to beatification.
Pius XII, who had been Apostolic Nuncio to Germany when Hitler’s political party was establishing itself, served as Pope for 19 years -- from 1939 to 1958 -- during one of the most difficult and dramatic periods of Church history.
The recent promulgation of the decree caused immediate resentful reactions in some parts of the Jewish world. Though recognizing Pius XII’s merit in encouraging convents and monasteries to offer refuge to fugitive Jews -- a merit that has been historically demonstrated -- some Jewish representatives have in fact stated that this recent decision only rekindles the sorrow for what was, in their opinion, a lack of an official stand by Pius XII against the Shoah.
Nevertheless, despite some opposing talk from across the Tiber River, the Pope’s visit to Rome’s Synagogue is still scheduled for January 17th, 2010.
On Saturday, December 19th, Benedict XVI authorized the decree that recognizes the heroic virtue of Pope Pius XII, pushing him one step closer to beatification.
Pius XII, who had been Apostolic Nuncio to Germany when Hitler’s political party was establishing itself, served as Pope for 19 years -- from 1939 to 1958 -- during one of the most difficult and dramatic periods of Church history.
The recent promulgation of the decree caused immediate resentful reactions in some parts of the Jewish world. Though recognizing Pius XII’s merit in encouraging convents and monasteries to offer refuge to fugitive Jews -- a merit that has been historically demonstrated -- some Jewish representatives have in fact stated that this recent decision only rekindles the sorrow for what was, in their opinion, a lack of an official stand by Pius XII against the Shoah.
Nevertheless, despite some opposing talk from across the Tiber River, the Pope’s visit to Rome’s Synagogue is still scheduled for January 17th, 2010.