"When Pope Pius XII died in 1958, his papers were sealed in the Vatican Secret Archives, leaving unanswered questions about what he knew and did during World War II. Those questions have only grown and festered, making Pius XII one of the most controversial popes in Church history, especially now as the Vatican prepares to canonize him. In 2020, Pius XII's archives were finally opened, and David I. Kertzer--widely recognized as one of the world's leading Vatican scholars--has been mining this new material ever since, revealing how the pope came to set aside moral leadership in order to preserve his church's power. Based on thousands of never-before-seen documents not only from the Vatican, but from archives in Italy, Germany, France, Britain, and the United States, The Pope at War paints a new, dramatic portrait of what the pope did and did not do as war enveloped the continent and as the Nazis began their systematic mass murder of Europe's Jews. The book clears away the myths and sheer falsehoods surrounding the pope's actions from 1939 to 1945, showing why the pope repeatedly bent to the wills of Hitler and Mussolini"-- Provided by publisher.

Part One. WAR CLOUDS. Death of a Pope -- The Conclave -- Appealing to the Führer -- The Peacemaker -- "Please do not talk to me about Jews." -- The Nazi Prince -- Saving Face -- War Begins -- The Prince Returns -- A Papal Curse -- Man of Steel -- A Problematic Visitor -- Part Two. ON THE PATH TO AXIS VICTORY. An Inopportune Time -- An Honorable Death -- A Short War -- Surveillance -- The Feckless Ally -- The Greek Fiasco -- A New World Order -- Hitler to the Rescue -- The Crusade -- A New Prince -- Best to Say Nothing -- Part Three. CHANGING FORTUNES. Escaping Blame -- Papal Premiere -- Disaster Foretold -- A Thorny Problem -- An Awkward Request -- The Good Nazi -- Deposing the Duce -- Musical Chairs -- Betrayal -- Part Four.THE SKY TURNED BLACK. Fake News -- The Pope's Jews -- Baseless Rumors -- Treason -- A Gratifying Sight -- Malevolent Reports -- A Gruesome End.