KGB intent on linking Pius XII with Nazis, says former spy

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Pius XII and WWII

Comments: 25

Washington D.C., Jan 26, 2007 / 04:18 pm (CNA).- A former high-ranking officer with the KGB claims that the Kremlin and the Russian intelligence agency in the 1960s were set on executing a smear campaign against the Catholic Church, and the main target was Pope Pius XII.

In a recent issue of the National Review Online, Lt. General Ion Mihai Pacepa, who eventually defected from the former Soviet bloc, recounts how the KGB and the Kremlin designed the deliberate campaign to portray the Pius XII “as a coldhearted Nazi sympathizer.”

“In February 1960, Nikita Khrushchev approved a super-secret plan for destroying the Vatican’s moral authority in Western Europe,” writes Pacepa. “Eugenio Pacelli, by then Pope Pius XII, was selected as the KGB’s main target, its incarnation of evil, because he had departed this world in 1958. ‘Dead men cannot defend themselves’ was the KGB’s latest slogan.”

The code name for this operation against Pope Pius XII was “Seat-12.”

The KGB used the fact that Archbishop Pacelli had served as the papal nuncio in Munich and Berlin when the Nazis were beginning their bid for power against him. “The KGB wanted to depict him as an anti-Semite who had encouraged Hitler’s Holocaust,” says Pacepa.

To do this, the KGB wanted some original Vatican documents to “slightly modify”. So they called in Pacepa, who was working for the Romanian intelligence service.

Pacepa says he became the Romanian point man. He was authorized to falsely inform the Vatican that Romania was ready to restore its broken relations with the Holy See, in exchange for access to its archives — in order to find historical roots that would help the Romanian government publicly justify its change of heart toward the Holy See — and a one-billion-dollar, interest-free loan for 25 years.

Between 1960 and 1962, the Romanian spy sent hundreds of archival documents connected in any way with Pope Pius XII to the KGB. Pacepa says none of the documents were incriminating in themselves, but they were sent to the KGB in any case.

The KGB used these documents to produce a powerful play attacking Pope Pius XII, entitled The Deputy. It eventually saw the stage in Germany in 1963, under the title The Deputy, a Christian Tragedy. It proposed that Pius XII had supported Hitler and encouraged him to go ahead with the Jewish Holocaust. The German director claimed to have 40 pages of documentation attached to the script that would support the thesis of the play.

The play ran in New York in 1964 and was translated into 20 languages. The play then led to a flurry of books and articles, some accusing and some defending the pontiff.

“Today, many people who have never heard of The Deputy are sincerely convinced that Pius XII was a cold and evil man who hated the Jews and helped Hitler do away with them,” Pacepa writes in the National Review Online. “As KGB chairman Yury Andropov, the unparalleled master of Soviet deception, used to tell me, people are more ready to believe smut than holiness.”

Pacepa says the truth has finally begun to emerge with the canonization process of Pius XII, which was opened by Pope John Paul II.

“Witnesses from all over the world have compellingly proved that Pius XII was an enemy, not a friend, of Hitler,” says Pacepa.

He also refers to the book The Myth of Hitler’s Pope: How Pope Pius XII Rescued Jews From the Nazis, by David G. Dalin, which has compiled further proof of Archbishop Pacelli’s friendship for the Jews.

“At the start of World War II, Pope Pius XII’s first encyclical was so anti-Hitler that the Royal Air Force and the French air force dropped 88,000 copies of it over Germany,” he concludes.

Comments: 25

Subscriber comments:

Published by: James Ingram
United Kingdom 01/31/2007 10:43 AM EST

Excellent report. Just one minor error. The Beatification Cause of Pius XII was started, along with that of John XXIII, which has been completed, by Pope Paul VI.
I fear that the Beatification of Pius is being delayed for political reasons.... upsetting the State of Israel. I sincerely hope that I am wrong.

Published by: G. De Feo
Brooklyn/NY/USA 01/31/2007 06:02 AM EST

Mr. Pacepa will, I hope, be careful. After the suspicious deaths of two critics of the regime in Russia, he is being brave in voicing his assessment. May the Lord protect him!

Published by: Stephen
San José, Costa Rica 01/30/2007 02:52 PM EST

A fair question is what did the German bishops of then said on Houchhuth's attack on Pius XII? Did they publicly (as the issue demanded) come to the defense of Pius XII?

Published by: Guy Di Spigno
Chicago, Illinois 01/30/2007 02:07 AM EST

The article does not say Houchhuth was a comunist but implies he was infulenced like many others by the anti Catholic campaign by the Soviet Union. If anything Houchhuth enjoyed the publicity and money generated by the play The Deputy and other that attacked those who were dead and could not defend themselves.

Published by: John
Rochester, NH USA 01/29/2007 01:08 PM EST

The most surprising assertion here is that The Deputy was a KBG sponsored play. Was Rolf Hochhuth a communist? Did he deliberately conspire with the KGB? I have difficulty believing much of anything published in the rag founded by Buckley.

Published by: c.walker
USA 01/29/2007 12:42 PM EST

I hope someone forwards a copy of this article to Sister Mangione who has been trying to get the Israeli government to grant "righteous gentile" status to Pope Pius XII. She has been a voice crying in the wilderness in her defense of him and this proves how that voice was correct. P.S. Interesting to note too that in the Bernstein book on Pope John Paul II, "His Holiness," that the KGB also fed misinformation about the late Holy Father into the Western media. I was shocked how many of the misconceptions about the pope in the early days of his pontificate directly related to that planted material.

Published by: Oliver
France 01/29/2007 03:43 AM EST

Here in France everybody is convinced Pius XII is more or less hitlerian. I think personnally he will once be beatified because he has directly saved thousands of jews directly, and hundreds of thousands indirectly.

The leader of the tribe of calomnious historians is Mrs Lacroix-Riz, a stalinian historian, who when she doesn't attack the Catholic Church tries to negate the innumerable crimes of communism.
Of course she has the favours of mass media.

Nothing has changed.

Published by: Philip
Texas USA 01/28/2007 08:18 PM EST

Don't forget. The saintlier a person is the more he is attacked by evil men. That's the reason Pius XII has been attacked so vociferously. But don't lose heart. Good will always triumph. Eventually Pius XII will be canonized because he was saintly. Yes, it's true. Pius XII and the Catholic Church saved about 800,000 Jews during the Second World War. Even the Vatican was a haven for many Jews. So don't pay attention to evil men. Calm down and pray for them. May God bless you and evil men.

Published by: Elsy Monroy
Malrboro, NJ 01/28/2007 02:54 PM EST

The propaganda against Pope Pius XII got started THROUGH the communis. It is worth the read. It really points out how it is that Communism is in fact a force that must be eradicated from our society because I would go as far as saying that the smearing of the Catholic Church concerning priests and seminaries is an attempt again by them to destroy the faith of the Catholic people. I believe that the Church is not in the business of defending itself against such accusations, being so busy taking care of the many by so few religious. It can only take it in the chin and count on the promise of Jesus Christ that His Church will last until the end of time. It is a sad thing that even the dead are filing suits against the Church. May the good Lord have mercy on us all.

I look forward to the time when this all comes out as the lie it is and I pray for the people of Massachussets who like witches they invented in Salem, came forth to initiate such evil against the one Church that has provided the structure to governments and democracy and against ignorance.

I wash them all clean in the fountain of mercy of Jesus Christ and disable them from any further damage to the beauty of God. I call for the washing in those waters of all evil agendas going on on television, radio, newspapers, Congress, the world governments. I wash them clean along with all the corporations that make themselves rich through the ignorance that they support in our school systems in JESUS' name.Amen.

Published by: Stephen
San José, Costa Rica 01/28/2007 12:24 PM EST

"Have the lies ended? No, they are more subtle and incorporate modern media via movies such as the DaVinci Code."

Indeed they are more subbtle and in a way more insidious. Since the "International" is no longer active and after the collapse of the Soviet empire, the enemies of Christ and his church have focused in using the corruption of the West as a vehicle to destroy Christ's Church. Just as the most active servants of the "Prince of Lies" were working on behalf of the Soviet Empire, now they have had to direct all their energies to destroy the faith in Christ and his church via the corruption of the West. And in a way I would say that this new form of attack is even more dangerous and menacing, since the vehicles of corruption of the West have managed to reach every single area of the World, when before the fall of the Soviet the Cold War kept them at check and on guard. Then they had to restraint themselves, now that is not the case anymore. Now more than ever the danger of the raise of the Anti-Christ, and its purposes of world domination, is more evident than ever. The Children of Light should be more alert than before. Satan is not dead.

Published by: Byron
Austin, TX, USA 01/28/2007 10:09 AM EST

It is gratifying to see the truth come to light reminiscent of the final day when all shall be made clear. But until we reach that "terrible-day" we must endure the machinations of the Father of Lies; so it is quite consoling to see Pius XII vindicated for those confused about the past. Students of the 'real' past always knew and know full well the methods of one of the primary enemies of the Church, which has always been the Communist Party and all it's disguises. Have the lies ended? No, they are more subtle and incorporate modern media via movies such as the DaVinci Code. The use of movies has always been an excellent source of propaganda and indoctrination by communists; i.e. becareful what you put before your eyes.
The warnings about the evil of communism came early from Heaven and was repeated emphatically at Fatima; yet how many know Fatima and the message any longer?

Published by: Pat McHenry
Corner Brook, NL Canada 01/28/2007 09:01 AM EST

Rate: Bad

This attempt to whitewash the reputation of Pius XII is ill advised. The facts speak for themselves. For reasons known to him and God alone, he did not condemn the Nazi Holocaust and the slaughter of the innocents. In hindsight and given the courageous confrontation of social evil by recent Popes, his silence evokes concern.
Let's not try to blame it on the Communists; the Church can handle the truth.
Pax Tecum

Published by: Stephen
San José, Costa Rica 01/27/2007 09:19 PM EST

Magdalen Mauldin, Yes, indeed, there were and there are plotters inside the Catholic Clergy to bring down the Church. We still don't know how high they managed to reach inside the Catholic hierarchy, but I am sure that they must have had agents inside the Holy See, working in the Congregations and Tribunals and in the religious orders. There were and there are pro-communist clerics inside the clergy and inside the Vatican. Actually the Novus Ordo liturgy served very well to the purposes of these anti-Christ clerics, since the People of God concept (presented by the II Vatican Council), very easily served as a based to develop pro-marxist christianism and the anti-hierarchy "Church of the People". Can anyone in their right mind doubt this indisputable fact of the Church's history of the last 50 years?

Published by: Stephen
San José, Costa Rica 01/27/2007 09:02 PM EST

Richard wrote: ". . .It was totally confusing to him that a generation later the Jews would attack him, and in such a pronounced fashion. Now we know how something so totally absurd happened. Thank you for solving the mystery". Actually we still don't know why Pius XII has so many enemies among present day Jews. It has been exhaustely documented the praises and recognition that Pius XII drew from the Jews of his time, those who suffered the Shoah. All of whom recognized (from Albert Eistein to Golda Meir), praised and thanked Pius XII for everything he did in defense of the Jews, at a time when nobody else was doing anything. But we still don't know why so many prominent present day Jews are attacking Pius XII, when these attacks only came from sympathizers of communism in the West, very likely in collusion with the ex-Soviet empire. This myriad of interest has not been unmasked, and it should so the world knows who is behind the present days attacks against Pius XII. Is it a fact that there is forest planted in Israel in honor of Pius XII? What is it called?

Published by: K Simpson
london UK 01/27/2007 08:48 PM EST

It is headline news that a long running west End play was in fact produced by the KGB! Will you see the headlines? Not whilst the KGB's western equivalent controls the media.

Published by: Ehsan
Pakistan 01/27/2007 05:08 PM EST

Its a great pleasure commenting here on CNA. i m a muslim and feel that the time has come when all peace loving and humane people ,regardless of their religions, should come forward and summon up their efforts for a better world. let work together...

Published by: Betty G. Armendarez
Owensboro, Ky. U. S. A. 01/27/2007 05:08 PM EST

I am always happy to hear someone defend Pope Pius XII. Thanks! He was truly a saint.

Published by: George Angel
Canada 01/27/2007 03:02 PM EST

If this evil play was so successful at deceiving and manuipulating the real truth think of the great damage done to the Catholic Church by the Da Vinci Code Movie and Book that had far more exposure than the play in question. In both cases the real target is and always has been the Catholic Church and faith that is the Body of Christ on earth instituted by Jesus Christ through the Apostle Peter who was the first Pope. The evil one has always used the same strategy and tactics but with a modern spin. Do not be deceived! A wonderful hard to get book entitled: "The Assisi Underground The Priests who rescued Jews," written by Jewish Author Alexander Ramati, as told by Padre Rufino Niccacci, recounts: "All in all, 32,000 Italian Jews and several thousand foreign Jews were hidden successfully by the Italian people, most of them in monasteries and religious institutions." Even though many Priests and religious were shot on the spot for helping Jews escape, Ramati also states: "the Italians in saving 80% of Italian Jewry, the opposite of what happened in the rest of Europe, where except for Denmark with it's 8,000 Jews spirited away to Sweden, 80% per cent of the Jews perished." Pope Pius XII is a Saint, was a Saint, and will officially become a Saint in the very near future. I would encourage CNA readers to pray and discern about what you see and hear especially in the main stream media, movies or on television these days. All is not what it seems. Pray, Pray, Pray!

Published by: Richard
San Francisco 01/27/2007 01:28 PM EST

My dad’s cousin spent 25 years at the Vatican studying all the files on Pius XII and the Holocaust. He said the facts are that the pope was the only real friend the Jews had during that time. It was totally confusing to him that a generation later the Jews would attack him, and in such a pronounced fashion. Now we know how something so totally absurd happened. Thank you for solving the mystery.

Published by: Barbara
WA 01/27/2007 01:28 PM EST

I read that trees were planted by the Jews, each one in honor of lives saved by this Pontif.
They are still in the Holy land today.
Lots and lots of trees.
Would the Jews have honored him in this way if they believed he had tried to exterminate them?

Published by: Magdalen Mauldin
Littleton Co. USA 01/27/2007 12:29 PM EST

I am not surprised about the news that is coming forth about Communisms attempt to destroy the Catholic Church. Read a booklet titled AA 1025 by Marie Carre.

Published by: Stephen
San José, Costa Rica 01/27/2007 11:26 AM EST

This is a very important piece of information about the smear campaign that still is advocated by present interest groups in Europe, and the US. We still don't know the story of the conspirators in the West, and inside the Vatican, who collaborated with the Soviets in their smear campaign against Pius XII and the Catholic Church. We must never forget that there were traitors inside the Catholic clergy who conspirated in collusion with Eastern European Communist Secret Services to destroy the Catholic Church. I am sure that even in Italy, let's not forget that even though Italy is the most catholic country in Europe, it is also where communists were strongest, there were significant groups collaborating in this insidious campaign. This news is just the tip of the iceberg.

Published by: R. Anderson
Ontario, Canada 01/27/2007 10:07 AM EST

Just as the Evil One sought to discredit the Holy Father, Benedict XVI for speaking words of truth in Regensburg, so have many detractors sought to attack the life and memory of the venerable Pope Pius XII. The late pope was a pastor and father who moved decisively within the tense and political structures and realities of the day to bring the light of the Gospel to the hardened heart of evil men. "Blessed are they that suffer persecution for the sake of justice, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven". Eugenio Pacelli rejoices with that multitude which no one can number and continues to plead for the salvation of souls. His prayers are infinitely more efficacious in the midst of the libel and scandal of the '60s and today. God bless him and God save us.

Published by: Cherie
St. Louis, MO USA 01/26/2007 07:58 PM EST

It is no surprise that this exceedingly evil play had an exceedingly evil source.

Published by: Bridget
Boulder, CO USA 01/26/2007 05:58 PM EST

I'm glad the comments are available again!!!

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