(TRULY, THE ENTIRE LIST OF ACTS RELATING TO THE SECOND WORLD WAR ARE ALREADY’ THEY HAVE BEEN PUBLISHED FOR YEARS BY FATHER BLET…)
Excellent news for scholars, who will have new tools for understanding a past yet to be clarified. This is the opinion of the four historians interviewed by the editorial team for an evaluation of Bergoglio's words, which today announced the opening of the secret archive relating to the figure of Pius XII.
The provision, also greeted with appreciation by the Presidency of the UCEI, will take effect from 2 March 2020. In this regard, the Pope said he was "confident that serious and objective historical research will be able to evaluate it in its right light, with appropriate criticism, moments of exaltation of that pontiff and undoubtedly also moments of serious difficulty, of tormented decisions, of human and Christian prudence, which to some may have appeared to be reticence and which instead were attempts, humanly also very conflicted, to keep lit, in times of deepest darkness and cruelty, the flame of humanitarian initiatives, of hidden but active diplomacy, of hope in possible good openings of hearts".
“It is an act that has been expected for a long time. And therefore satisfaction, while waiting to be able to evaluate the contents of the archive, it's great” underlines Anna Foa. Hope, adds the scholar, “is that it can help us resolve two legends: the black one and the pink one”. On the topic “a serious and scientific evaluation is needed, beyond the aspects that go in one direction or another without excessive historiographical rigor". For Foa "it is positive that the Church also chooses the path of transparency in this field".
“I don't think we will be able to find particularly sensational documents, something that can really change the substance of the debate. But it is certainly important news” observes Gadi Luzzatto Voghera. “I remember that under the previous papacy a mixed commission was established, whose traces have been lost. It's good - he adds - that we decide today to go in this direction". Regardless of what you find, however, Luzzatto Voghera specifies, the debate today revolves around "objective evaluations of the work of a pope whose priority was the fight against communism, with Nazi Germany in its camp". And without forgetting that "the pre-conciliar Church certainly did not stand out for its philo-Semitism and therefore not too particular attention to certain dynamics should not surprise us".
“It is impossible to evaluate the relevance of an archive a priori if it is not known. However, the gesture is appreciated, which must be taken into consideration. A gesture of responsibility” says Claudio Vercelli. “This means – he adds – that there is attention to certain issues, that we want discussion and dialogue to continue". Vercelli's hope is that this availability "will help dismantle two clichés: is too benign a reading, than an excessively blaming one; two peculiar attitudes that do not belong to an understanding of the past". In any case, comment, “It is illusory to think that all the answers can be found in the archive”.
Annalisa Capristo was also satisfied: “This is a significant step, from which the entire world of historical research will benefit. In fact, I'm sure that important things will emerge.". Naturally, he adds, it will be necessary to see the tools that will be prepared and the way in which this documentary heritage will be usable. “Beyond happy, I'm very curious".
Adam Smulevich twitter @asmulevichmoked
(4 March 2019)
SOURCE – http://moked.it/blog/2019/03/04/pio-xii-larchivio-sara-aperto-la-soddisfazione-degli-storici/