World War II
The Latest
Pope Leo XIV recognizes martyrdom of 2 priests killed by Nazis
The killings marked the first day of what is now known as the Marzabotto Massacre, a large civilian massacre in... Read more
Irish stamp honors Vatican ‘Pimpernel’ O’Flaherty, who saved 6,500 Jews in World War II
Ireland’s postal service released a stamp marking the 100th anniversary of the ordination of Monsignor Hugh O’Flaherty — the Irish... Read more
The World War II tragedy still shrouded in silence 80 years later
On May 3, 1945, one of the greatest and most silenced maritime tragedies of the 20th century unfolded in the... Read more
80 years after Auschwitz’s liberation: ‘I ask you only to remember’
Jan. 27 marks the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, the concentration camp in which Father Maximilian Kolbe gave... Read more
Church beatifies German priest who was executed by Nazis in 1944
Father Max Josef Metzger, executed by Nazis in 1944 for promoting peace and Christian unity, was beatified Sunday in Freiburg,... Read more
Vatican commemorates 80th anniversary of Pius XII’s meeting with Allied troops
On June 12, 1944, Pius XII gave an enthusiastic speech in English thanking the members of the 38th (Irish) Brigade... Read more
On D-Day anniversary, Pope Francis prays for men who start and prolong wars
“People want peace!” the pope wrote in a June 5 message. “They want conditions of stability, security, and prosperity in... Read more
Remembering 3 heroic chaplains on the 80th anniversary of D-Day
The extraordinary courage of these clergymen should never be forgotten. Read more
Documents identify thousands of Jews hidden by Catholic religious during Nazi occupation of Rome
The newly rediscovered documentation references more than 4,300 people hidden by 100 women’s religious congregations and 55 men’s religious congregations. Read more
Cardinal Marx apologizes for later bishop’s role in WWII massacre
Before he ascended to the rank of auxiliary bishop in the Archdiocese of Munich and Freising in 1968, Matthias Defregger... Read more
The ‘Four Chaplains,’ selfless heroes of WWII, honored on 80th anniversary of their deaths
A New Jersey parish church on Sunday honor the “Four Chaplains” who sacrificed their lives to save others on the... Read more
University to host center for study of Polish Catholics and Jews who saved lives under Nazism and communism
The center will be based at the John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin. Read more
Heroic Catholic priest described as a ‘guardian angel’ in WWII is beatified
Blessed Giovanni Fornasini was killed while trying to bury victims of a Nazi massacre. Read more
.jpg?w=220&h=165)
Inside the search for Polish Catholic sisters killed by the Red Army and on the path to beatification
The sisters were brutally mistreated by Soviet soldiers in 1945. Have their bodies finally been recovered? Read more
Catholic cycling champion who saved Jews during World War II honored in Assisi
Gino Bartali helped to save more than 800 Jews from Nazi persecution. Read more
.png?w=220&h=165)
Polish Catholics commemorate fifth of diocesan priests killed in World War II
Around 2,000 of Poland’s 10,000 diocesan priests perished during the Nazi German occupation. Read more
Polish Catholic bishop: Warsaw Ghetto Uprising anniversary is ‘an appeal to love one’s neighbor’
The uprising -- the largest single Jewish revolt of World War II -- was launched 78 years ago Read more
Book gives more insight into the actions of Pius XII and his 'bureau' during WWII
A new book provides further information from the archives of Venerable Pius XII, including the Vatican’s attempts to oppose the... Read more
Cardinal Dziwisz: heed St. John Paul II’s appeal for peace on World War II anniversary
The world needs once again to hear St. John Paul II’s appeal for an end to war, Cardinal Stanisław Dziwisz... Read more
Polish bishops recall service of priests, nuns during Warsaw Uprising
Commemorating the 76th anniversary of the Warsaw Uprising against the Nazis, the Catholic bishops of Poland released a reflection on... Read more
