The Catholic Church in the First half of the 20th Century
Important Events/Dates World War I: 1914-1918 Russian Revolution: 1917 Catholic Social Movement: 1920s Rise of Nazism: 1920s and 1930s World War II: 1939-1945
Response to Communism 1917 Russian Revolution Working class take control Result: totalitarian regime Pope Pius XI response Difference between communism and socialism Condemns communism Also condemns social conditions that nourished communism
Concerns about Economics and Social Order Quadragesimo Anno Ethical implication of social and economic order Unrestrained capitalism and totalitarianism dangerous Private property must be allowed
Nazi Germany and the Vatican Pope Pius XII: Hitler’s Pope? Concordat Was Pius indifferent to the holocaust? Canonization (Pius a Saint)
Eugenio Pacelli Educated in canon law Papal Nuncio to Germany, 1917 Elevated to Archbishop Cardinal Secretary of State, 1930 Concordat with Germany, 1933
Diplomatic Relations Pacelli silenced Catholic priests and bishops Opposed violations of Concordat, 1937 Vindictive response from Hitler Elected Pope, 1939 Chooses the name Pius
Pius XII in Action Call from Rabbi Herzog in 1940 Pius challenged Ribbentrop Encyclical Summi Pontificatus Cautious condemnation Nazi occupied Rome Pius hid Jews and forged baptismal documents
Should Pius be made a Saint? December 2009 Pope Benedict XVI put forward Pius XII and John Paul II for sainthood
Focus Question Did Pius do everything a Catholic Should and could have done? How would you judge Pius’ actions relative to our values and virtues?