Pope Francis announced the opening of the Vatican's secret archives during the Second World War

Pope Francis announced Monday the opening of the secret files compared to the pontificate of Pius XII (1939-1958) for clarify the accusation that this pontiff would not have raised his voice against Nazism during World War II, something always denied by the Vatican.

"I decided that the opening of the archives of the pontificate of Pius XII at the Vatican will take place on March 2, 2020exactly one year after the 80th anniversary of the election at Peter Throne of Eugenio Pacelli"Francisco explained when he received a representation of workers from the Vatican's secret archives.

In the past, various badociations and the inter-religious dialogue committee Jewish and Catholic "International Jewish Committee for Interreligious Consultations" had asked to know the documentation of this pontificate in the Vatican archives, especially after the beginning of the process of beatification.

Many accused Pacelli of not claimed against the crimes of Nazism, beginning with the raid on the Rome Ghetto on October 16, 1943, when a A few meters from the Vatican, 1022 people were deported to Auschwitz and returned only 16 times..

Francisco had always welcomed the opening of the archives and pointed out that Pius XII had secretly saved many Jews, but the large number of documents dating back almost 20 years of pontificate had delayed cataloging work.

Over the last ten years, a dozen people, under the direction of Sergio Pagano, prefect of the Secret Archives, have had to deal with order sixteen million documents, more than fifteen thousand envelopes and two thousand five hundred records .

"I take this decision after hearing the opinion of my closest badociates, with a calm and confident spirit, certain that a serious and objective historical research will be able to evaluate in the best light the appropriate criticismsmoments of exaltation of this pontiff and, no doubt, also moments of serious difficulties, tormented decisions, human and Christian prudence, "he said.

However, for some, such decisions might seem reluctant "were attempts, fought with humanity, to ignite, in times of darkness and cruelty, the flame of humanitarian, hidden diplomacy initiatives but active, hope in the possible openings of hearts, "said Francisco. On the other hand, he badured that "the Church is not afraid of history, but she loves it"

The archives of Pius XII are listed in three great groups: those of the pontifical representations, those of the secretary of state and those of the Roman congregations and other departments of the Vatican.

The opening of the Vatican's secret archives to scholars began in 1881 during the pontificate of Leo XIII (1878-1903). Later, the pontiffs had the principle of opening the archives to studies "pontificate after pontificate" and not from determined period.

On September 18, 2006, the Vatican has already opened to the public all the documentation relating to the pontificate of Pius XI (1922-1939) existing in the secret archives of the Vatican, among which stand out documents on the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939) . Nazi Germany and fascist Italy.

Up to now, the Vatican has only agreed to open to historians, in 2004, "Inter Arma Caritas, the Vatican Information Office on POWs instituted by Pius XII (1939-1947) ", a book that brings together the archives. of 2,100,000 prisoners of the Second World War on whom information was requested.

In 1965, the Vatican published an extensive collection of 12 volumes under the title "Acts and Documents of the Holy See concerning the Second World War", which already contained much information on the pontificate of Pius XII.

(With EFE information)