With support from the University of Richmond

History News Network

History News Network puts current events into historical perspective. Subscribe to our newsletter for new perspectives on the ways history continues to resonate in the present. Explore our archive of thousands of original op-eds and curated stories from around the web. Join us to learn more about the past, now.

Rome's chief rabbi says that only God can judge Pius XII on Jews

This view was articulated before the Pope's planned visit to the city's temple for the first time on Sunday.

Only God can judge whether war time Pope Pius XII did enough to save Jews and whether he should have spoken out more forcefully against the Holocaust, according to the rabbi who will host Pope Benedict first visit to Rome's synagogue.

Rabbi Riccardo di Segni also said he hoped the event would help combat hostility towards the Jewish world and intolerance of any religion.

Benedict's visit to the synagogue has been overshadowed by his decision last month to move Pius closer towards sainthood.
Read entire article at Telegraph (UK)