Abstract
The question of the part played by the Catholic Church during World War II is highly controversial. Historiography maintained its silence about this subject for quite a number of years. However, during the years 1964-1965, the Pope Pius XII had been the subject of numerous campaigns of denigrement. The controversy is still acute in the present scenario; some accuse the Pope of having been indifferent to the Shoah and not having spoken out against Hitler. Others consider that Pius XII worked behind the scenes to help Jews throughout the continent. Thus, the subject has stirred up much passion and still does, but now that most of the archives have been opened, it is probably easier to appease the debate and to analyze this very interesting topic.
