Hitler s Pope The Secret History of Pius XII
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Hitler's Pope by John Cornwell is a book geared to examining the contributions made by Eugenio Pacelli to the papacy both before and after becoming pope. Cornwell uses historical analysis of Pacelli's life as a way of showing how events within his past ultimately influenced the decisions he made while in papal office. Cornwell states that the thesis of this book is the fatal influence Pacelli had on the history of this century.
Eugenio Pacelli had a history that inevitably placed him into a position within the church. Dating back to the days of his grandfather Marcantonio, the Pacelli family had been associated with the papacy. As a child Pacelli exhibited a priestly character. It was no surprise to his family that Pacelli decided to lead a life dedicated to the ministry.
Cornwell uses the argument that Pacelli's intentions to protect the church and defend its power led him to make detrimental decisions. The historical picture painted by Cornwell suggests that Pacelli's work with various popes and his role in coordinating concordats on their behalf started a continuous path of downward political decisions.
One instance that Cornwell uses to support these ideas is the Concordat with Serbia...