However, by the 20th century there had been a basic peace created between the two religions. In spite of any beliefs otherwise, Pope Pius XII and the Catholic Church helped over 800,000 Jews escape death (Chao 8). Therefore, no one could or can prove that the Catholic religion supported the extermination of the Jewish Race. .
Cardinal Eugenio Pacelli, then Secretariat of State, was elected Pope on March 2, 1939 on the eve of the Second World War. Eugenio Pacelli was the nuncio in Munich and Berlin during the 1920's; during this assignment, Msgr. Pacelli saw the conditions that Germany was in after the First World War. In addition, he knew the power that Hitler was obtaining and the inspiration that Hitler gave the German citizens. Furthermore, Eugenio Pacelli was more aware of the evil nature of Nazism and Communism than any other world leader. .
Pacelli knew what Hitler was capable of if he publicly spoke out against the Third Rich. Therefore, the 260th Pope, toke on the stance of impartiality and declared neutrality of the Vatican State during the Second World War; this was the first time the Vatican was its own state and it was to its benefit (Belt 65). Pius XII understood that if he spoke out for his flock, the Christians, and their brothers, the Jews, then the persecutions would be greater. The Catholic clergy of Holland protested more loudly and frequently than the Catholic hierarchy in regards to the Jewish persecutions; the result was over 110,000 or 80 percent of the all the Holland Jews were deported to death camps (Chao 5). Some people say that the Vicar of Christ should have spoke out because Hitler would have to reconsider his actions (Cornwell 260-300). However, he would have hindered the lives of more people than those that were already lost. .
Even tough, Pope Pius XII did not publicly stand up for the allies or denounce the Third Rich and their allies; he did help as much as he could.
