From the ArcaMax Publishing, Religion & Spirituality Newsletter:
http://www.arcamax.com/news/religionandspirituality/s-574778-904945
VATICAN CITY (UPI) -- The priest in charge of the Vatican's secret
archives says the documents on Pope Pius XII show he did his best to
save Jews during World War II.
Monsignor Sergio Pagano was questioned about the pope's files Thursday
during a news conference on Galileo, the Italian news agency ANSA
said. The files are scheduled to be opened in 2014 or 2015.
''When the archives can be published there'll be some nice
surprises,'' he said.
Pius became pope shortly before the outbreak of World War II in Europe
and served until his death in 1958. His supporters, who included many
Jewish leaders immediately after the war, argue he kept silent about
the Nazis because he thought he could save more lives through apparent
conciliation.
The debate is hot at the moment because Pius is a candidate for
sainthood and because the Yad Vashem Museum in Israel gives an
unflattering picture of his record. Pope Benedict XVI, during a recent
trip to Israel, visited the Yad Vashem Memorial but did not enter the
museum.