Rating: 
Summary: Well researched history of Pius XII
Review: An engaging and meticulously researched account of Eugenio Pacelli's (Pius XII's) lifelong pursuit of absolute power for the papacy and its tragic consequences for Europe's Jews. Cornwell even reviews the research on the controversy over Pius's silence during World War II. The picture of the Pope that emerges from this research is disturbing to everyone--including the author, who had originally hoped to vindicate Pius XII. One of the most compelling aspects of the book is the case Cornwell presents for the compassionate and effective power of the Catholic Church in Germany in pre-Hitler Germany. The book records the history of the Catholic political party, the bishops, other Catholic organizations and individuals who were anxious to prevent Hitler from coming to power and might have succeeded had they not been forced into virtual silence by Pacelli's treaty with Hitler in 1933. Anyone who wishes to understand how Hitler came to power in Germany would do well to read Hitler's Pope
Rating:
Summary: Pacelli's Pact with Hitler
Review: Journalist John Cornwell puts Eugenio Pacelli's career, first as a papal diplomat, and then as Pius XII, within the historical context of the remaking of the Catholic church at the beginning of this century. Starting with the loss of the papal states and the secularization of national governments in the 19th century, the Vatican was determined to establish more direct control over the national churches. Starting with the declaration of papal infallibility by the First Vatican Council in 1870, and leading to the new code of canon law in 1915, it required the Vatican's entering new concordats with various nations. In entering a fateful concordat with Hitler, then Cardinal Pacelli agreed to silence the Catholic opposition against Hitler, which Hitler greatly feared (Bishops had been openly denouncing the racism of the Nazis and excommunicating Catholics who became Nazis). The signing of the concordat on 20 July 1933 was followed in a few days by the inauguration of the Nazi police state. This work goes a long way in explaining not only Pacelli and the Jews, but also the monolithic structure of the church that many of us were born into. It is a brilliant achievement.
Rating: 
Summary: All this and Heaven too!
Review: As a child growing up in Ireland a neighbour, who held the Catholic Church in low regard, would cry out whenever our pub conversation turned to Catholicism, "We robbed, raped and plundered but, we never lost the faith." I smile now though then I winced for you are right Leo, if this book is even remotely accurate.This is the story, written for any age, of an institution morally bankrupt. Led, no, driven by megalomaniac degenerates as to serve no purpose but their own. Evil, by all accounts, has taken residence in Vatican City (who knows when) and it's apologists remain to this day! Though somewhat dry in content and necessarily detailed it is an enjoyable read and a must for all those concerned that our history will be rewritten in C21. If Pious XII is canonised then the Catholic Church will have abandoned any semblance of decency or integrity and deserve nothing but contempt from civil society.
Rating:
Summary: Devastating, but true account of Pius XII
Review: Cornwell began this work prepared to defend Pius XII, but ended up having to face the truth that the Pope was mute due to fear for his own life. This is a fascinating and honest account of the history surrounding the Vatican during WWII. While it will make fellow Catholics squirm, it is necessary to sometimes face the truth, even though it is not exactly what was expected. This is an essential read for anyone studying Hitler and the rise and fall of the Third Reich.
Rating:
Summary: A fascinating and well documented book.
Review: As a practicing Catholic, I don't find the allegations against Pius XII particularly new. Pius XII's silence during World War II speaks for itself. What was truly interesting Pius XII's actions prior to his becoming Pope. Also anyone interested in Church History and Canon Law will find the early sections of the text illuminating. I found the approach thoughtful and caring. Pius XII is not portrayed as evil personified, but rather as a flawed individual with distinctly Machiavellian tendencies.
Rating: 
Summary: Forced and distorted analysis
Review: Claiming to have discovered never before seen documents attesting to Pius XII's early anti-semitism, which would explain his less than forthright defense of the Jews pursued by Nazi killers, Cornwell actually finds nothing about Pius' anti-semitism which is not forced and distorted in his hands. He does indeed contribute something important in documenting Pius'desire to centralize the Catholic church even more than it was. He also documents the unfortunate Vatican weakening of the German Center Party in the last days of the Weimar Republic and the first days of Hitler's regime. But this does not compensate for his vitriolic attack on Pius whose major fault (a real fault in a Pope, perhaps) was being more of a diplomat than a pastor of souls.
Rating: 
Summary: A well researched story on why Pope Pius said nothing
Review: For my entire life I heard the story, "Pope John the 23rd was great, Pope Pius the 12th did nothing to save the Jews." Finally, this book, by John Cornwell of Jesus College at Cambridge University, gives us the whole story, and illuminates the history of Pius and the Vatican during World War II. What I found even more interesting than the story of Pius' silence, anti-Semitism and anti-Communism, was Cornwell's story of Pope Pius XII's driving desire to centralize the authority of the Church in the Vatican. A must read for Fall 1999.
Rating:
Summary: Thoughtful and well researched
Review: Well written, well researched and balanced, this is one of the best books I've read in years! It is interesting that this is not the book the author intended to write. Cornwell thought he would exonerate Pope Pius XII from accusations that the Catholic church could have done more to help European Jews, but his careful research paints a story with many shades of gray. He does not completely condemn the actions of the church at that time and shows understanding of the difficult balancing act that was necessary. Yet this book answers the question of why the church was not more active in aiding the Jews and supporting the German Catholics who were trying to oppose Hitler. The book is interpreted below as anti-papal which it definitely is not! The church needs to examine its own behavior and look at its history dispassionately, which some so-called devout Catholics cannot stand. If you can't bear critical scrutiny then you probably can't afford to be a Christian or a Catholic! This is a most impressive and thoughtful book.
Rating:
Summary: Insidious
Review: An insidious book with an insidious title. Pius XII could do no more to stop the Holocaust than John Paul II could do to stop terrorism. Now, what was Pius XII to do, take a band of bishops and cardinals armed with staffs to the doors of Nazi Germany in protest? Here is an idea; lets lay the blame on Hitler and the Nazis. However, it would not have served the purpose of this book, which is to bash Catholicism. I certainly don't think Pius XII is perfect, but aligning him with Hitler and the Nazis is pure evil on the part of Cornwell. A useful apologetic against this drivel would be Mit Brennender Sorge given by Pius XI, and written with the assistance of Pius XII, in 1937. Another useful apologetic would be Summi Pontificatus given by Pius XII in 1939. Dear God, Hitler wouldn't listen. Could you believe that? Hitler being the psychopath that he was may very well have gone out and murdered more Jews and Christians and others if Pius XII had spoken more forcefully. Considering the circumstances, Pius XII did about as much as he could without endangering others, and he certainly did more than almost anyone else. Others that did significant good had to fight against the Nazis with weapons. Pius XII didn't have an army.
Other useful and factual exhibits refuting Cromwell's slanderous lies:
Exhibit - NY Times editorial from December 25, 1941 (along with several other NY Times editorials from WWII): "The voice of Pius XII is a lonely voice in the silence and darkness enveloping Europe this Christmas...In calling for a 'real new order' based on 'liberty, justice and love,' to be attained only by a 'return to social and international principles capable of creating a barrier against the abuse of liberty and the abuse of power, the pope put himself squarely against Hitlerism. Recognizing that there is no road open to agreement between belligerents 'whose reciprocal war aims and programs seem to be irreconcilable,' he left no doubt that the Nazi aims are also irreconcilable with his own conception of a Christian peace."
Exhibit - From Albrecht von Kessel (1963), German Embassy official to the Holy See: "We were convinced that a fiery protest by Pius XII against the persecution of the Jews ... would certainly not have saved the life of a single Jew. Hitler, like a trapped beast, would react to any menace that he felt directed at him, with cruel violence."
Exhibit - From Das Reich (on Pius XI's death): "Pius XI was a half-Jew, for his mother was a Dutch Jewess; but Cardinal Pacelli is a full Jew."
Exhibit - Albert Einstein from Time, December 23, 1940: "Being a lover of freedom, when the revolution came in Germany I looked to the universities to defend it, knowing that they had always boasted of their devotion to the case of truth; but no, the universities immediately were silenced. Then I looked to the great editors of the newspapers whose flaming editorials in days gone by had proclaimed their love of freedom. But they, like the universities, were silenced in a few short weeks. Only the Church stood squarely across the path of Hitler's campaign for suppressing truth. I never had any special interest in the Church before, but now I feel a great affection and admiration because the Church alone has had the courage and persistence to stand for intellectual truth and moral freedom. I am forced thus to confess, that what I once despised, I now praise unreservedly."
Exhibit - From the book Three Popes and the Jews (1967), by Israeli diplomat Pinchas E. Lapide: Pope Pius XII "was instrumental in saving at least 700,000, but probably as many as 860,000 Jews from certain death at Nazi hands."
Exhibit - Rabbi Isaac Herzog, Chief Rabbi of Jerusalem, from 1945: "The people of Israel will never forget what His Holiness and his illustrious delegates, inspired by the eternal principles of religion, which form the foundation of true civilization, are doing for our unfortunate brothers and sisters in the most tragic hour of our history, which is living proof of Divine Providence in this world."
The cold harsh reality is that the only thing that could stop Hitler, the Nazis, and the Holocaust was cold hard steel.
As far as polemics go, Cornwell owes an apology.
Rating:
Summary: Hitler's Pope
Review: If I wanted a good read, I certainly wouldn't read this book. It's not fact and certainly not even good fiction. I highly recommend "Hitler, the War, and the Pope", by Ronald J. Rychlak, for a much better understanding and a much more fascinating and historically accurate account of the events that took place before and during World War II. Don't let a fuzzy photograph fool you. Find out the truth...if you dare.
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