They will open the Vatican archives of the Second World War …

Pope Francis announced today that the secret files related to the pontificate of Pius XII (1939-1959) would open next year, a decision that could shed light on the Vatican's behavior against Nazism during the Second World War. .

"The church does not fear history, she adores it," said Francisco, after receiving a representation of workers from the Vatican's secret archives. "I have decided that the opening of the archives of the pontificate of Pius XII at the Vatican would take place on March 2, 2020, exactly one year after the 80th anniversary of the election of the Throne of Eugenio Stone. Pacelli, "he said.

In the past, various badociations and the interreligious dialogue committee Jewish and Catholic "International Jewish Committee of Interreligious Consultations" had requested the dissemination of the documentation on the papacy of Pius XII which is in the archives of the Vatican.

The Spanish agency Efe reported that Pope Pacelli was singled out for not denouncing the crimes of Nazism, starting with the raid on the ghetto of Rome on October 16, 1943, when a few meters from the Vatican were deported to Auschwitz and they only returned 16. However, Francisco considered that Pacelli secretly saved many Jews.

In the last ten years, a dozen people, under the direction of Sergio Pagano, prefect of the Secret Archives, have ordered sixteen million documents, more than fifteen thousand envelopes and two thousand five hundred files.

"I accept this decision after listening to the opinion of my closest badociates, with a calm and confident mind, confident that serious and objective historical research will be able to badess with appropriate light the appropriate criticisms, moments the exaltation of this pontiff and, no doubt also moments of serious difficulties, tormented decisions, human and Christian prudence, "said Francisco.

For some, such decisions may appear to be reluctant, but "were humanly-fought attempts 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 the pope.