Pope Benedict XVI has said that he was “seriously considering” the possibility of not proceeding with the beatification of Pius XII before the archives of his papacy are opened, said David Rosen, president of the International Jewish Committee on Interreligious Consultations (IJCIC), addressing a press conference following an audience with Benedict XVI.
The Vatican’s secret archives on the papacy of Pius XII will not be opened for another six or seven years because of some in-depth archiving work that is required, according to Vatican spokesman Father Federico Lombardi.
“We are obviously disappointed,” that access to the archives “is taking such a long time”, added Rabbi Rosen.
Ten days ago, the pope said he was favourable to the beatification of Pius XII, for which the process was launched in the 1960s. However, the Supreme Pontiff did not sign the decree claiming the “heroic virtues” of the former pope, visibly trying to calm the malaise created by his earlier statements.
The person in charge of these archives, Monsignor Sergio Pagano, who recently met with a delegation from the IJCIC, “explained the technical difficulties preventing the opening of the archives” for several more years. “And even if the Pope was to decide (to open them), it would not be possible before the conclusion of the technical work involved,” added Rabbi Rosen.
“Even though there has been no firm commitment to this effect, it would seem that the beatification process will not be restarted before the archives are reopened,” said Richard Prasquier.
Historians specialising in the controversial role played by Pius XII during the Holocaust regularly request the opening of these documents.
Pius XII is accused by Israel and Jewish associations of having remained silent about the persecution and deportation of Europe’s Jews during the Second World War.
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