Hitler's Pope

The Secret History of Pius XII

The "explosive" (The New York Times) bestseller—now with a new introduction by the author

When Hitler's Pope, the shocking story of Pope Pius XII that "redefined the history of the twentieth century" (The Washington Post) was originally published, it sparked a firestorm of controversy both inside and outside the Catholic Church. Now, award-winning journalist John Cornwell has revisited this seminal work of history with a new introduction that both answers his critics and reaffirms his overall thesis that Pius XII, now scheduled to be canonized by the Vatican, weakened the Catholic Church with his endorsement of Hitler—and sealed the fate of the Jews in Europe.

(P)2022 Tantor

Fascinating and gripping

This is a brilliant work of scholarship, prodigiously researched, and written and narrated with superlative excellence. The author demonstrates a profound understanding of Pacelli's character and of the RC Church, and lets the documented facts speak for themselves. What surprised me was the centrality to any assessment of Pacelli's guilt of his role in negotiating the Vatican concordats with Italy and Germany which did so much to undermine political Catholicism and smooth the way for the fascists. Neither hatchet. job nor hagiography, the book raises deep and disturbing questions. One of the best books of contemporary history I've read in a while.

The title is false advertising.

I can’t listen to all if this. It’s a waste. I was expecting something more like “A Woman Rides the Beast” by Dave Hunt.