The Pope at War by David I. Kertzer Summary
Overview of The Pope at War
Pulitzer Prize-winning "The Pope at War" unveils Vatican secrets from newly released archives, exposing how Pope Pius XII navigated relationships with Hitler and Mussolini. What moral compromises did the Church make during humanity's darkest hour - and why are religious scholars still debating them today?
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Key takeaways
When Silence Became Complicity
March 1939. A frail diplomat in white robes ascends to the papacy as Europe hurtles toward catastrophe. Pope Pius XII-born Eugenio Pacelli-inherits not just spiritual authority over millions but an impossible moral calculus: how to preserve the Catholic Church while the world burns. What unfolds is a story not of heroic resistance but of calculated silence, secret negotiations with Hitler, and a devastating choice to prioritize institutional survival over moral witness. Drawing on newly opened Vatican archives, this history reveals uncomfortable truths about what happens when leaders choose prudence over courage at civilization's darkest hour. Unlike popes who rose from parish work, Pacelli was forged in diplomatic chambers. Twelve years as papal nuncio in Germany gave him intimate knowledge of Nazi rise-and a preference for accommodation over confrontation. As Vatican Secretary of State, he had negotiated the 1929 Lateran Accords, securing Vatican City's sovereignty and Catholicism's privileged status in Fascist Italy. When his predecessor Pius XI died in February 1939, Mussolini celebrated: "At long last that stubborn old man is dead!" The dying pope had prepared a speech condemning Fascism. Pacelli's first act? Ordering every copy destroyed-"not a comma" would survive. His election came swiftly. German and Italian diplomats lobbied for him, seeing a more pliable figure than his predecessor. Many Italian cardinals worried about his "weakness of character," but on March 1, after three ballots, Pacelli emerged as Pius XII. The Vatican had chosen continuity over courage.
Secret Channels and Broken Peace
Selective Mercy and the Jewish Question
The Church Embraces War
Rome's Darkest Dawn
The Aftermath and Historical Reckoning
The Weight of History's Judgment
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From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
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