“"Very valuable . . . a fine and judicious book . . . " —István Deák, New York Review of Books "A well-reasoned but damning overview of the Vatican's response to Nazi atrocities during and after WWII. . . . A fair and even-tempered account of a volatile subject." —Kirkus Reviews "Phayer makes an important addition to the literature of Holocaust studies: he provides evidence that Pope Pius XII . . . knew in early 1942 what was happening to Europe's Jews . . . yet he remained silent. . . . " —Publishers Weekly Throwing the spotlight relentlessly on Pius XII ("Hitler's Pope") has skewed the question surrounding Catholicism and the Holocaust, depriving us of a record of what the entire church did or did not do. Such a record is provided for the first time in Michael Phayer's compelling book. Phayer shows that without effective church leadership under Pius XII, Catholics acted ambiguously during the Holocaust—some saving Jews, others helping Hitler murder them, the majority simply standing by. After the Holocaust, with Pope John XXIII at the healm, the church moved swiftly to rid itself of centuries-long antisemitic tradition.”

“"Very valuable . . . a fine and judicious book . . . " —István Deák, New York Review of Books "A well-reasoned but damning overview of the Vatican's response to Nazi atrocities during and after WWII. . . . A fair and even-tempered account of a volatile subject." —Kirkus Reviews "Phayer makes an important addition to the literature of Holocaust studies: he provides evidence that Pope Pius XII . . . knew in early 1942 what was happening to Europe's Jews . . . yet he remained silent. . . . " —Publishers Weekly Throwing the spotlight relentlessly on Pius XII ("Hitler's Pope") has skewed the question surrounding Catholicism and the Holocaust, depriving us of a record of what the entire church did or did not do. Such a record is provided for the first time in Michael Phayer's compelling book. Phayer shows that without effective church leadership under Pius XII, Catholics acted ambiguously during the Holocaust—some saving Jews, others helping Hitler murder them, the majority simply standing by. After the Holocaust, with Pope John XXIII at the healm, the church moved swiftly to rid itself of centuries-long antisemitic tradition.”

“After a thorough examination of recently-released archival materialMichael Phayer presents much new information and many carefully-considered original interpretations. His book constitutes essential reading for Holocaust specialists and students alike.”
 — Susan Zuccotti, Author, Under His Very Windows: The Vatican and the Holocaust in Italy

“Peter HayesTheodore Z. Weiss Professor of Holocaust StudiesNorthwestern University”

“All the more powerfully because of its measured tone and deliberate reasoning, this book demonstrates how Pius XII's anticommunism warped his moral judgment during the 1940s. As a result, he behaved more like Metternich or the CEO of a self—interested corporation than the Vicar of Christ on earth. In wel”
 — researched, fearless, and devastating fashion, Michael Phayer has illuminated a long, sad record of delusion and

“Phayer insists that the failures and deficiencies of Pius XII's leadership ought not lead to a simplistic condemnation. He looks carefully at the record of the pope as well as those of bishops, the church, and individual Catholics, and concludes that the record is mixed and complex. This reviewer recommends Phayer's text as the appropriate choice for all libraries having an interest in issues relating to the Holocaust. May 2001”
 — Choice

“Phayer insists that the failures and deficiencies of Pius XII's leadership ought not lead to a simplistic condemnation. He looks carefully at the record of the pope as well as those of bishops, the church, and individual Catholics, and concludes that the record is mixed and complex. This reviewer recommends Phayer's text as the appropriate choice for all libraries having an interest in issues relating to the Holocaust. May 2001”
 — Choice