Walter Zwi Bacharach

Antisemitism, Holocaust, and the Holy See: An Appraisal of Recent Books About the Vatican and the Holocaust

Review article on five recent books on the Vatican and the Holocaust

Based on recent research, the author concludes that the anti-Jewish theology promoted by the Church over many generations left its mark the Holy See’s policies during and after the Holocaust. Most of the scholarly discussion has focused on the Pope Pius XII’s activities; it was his Christianity rather than antisemitism that determined his positions. This Christian perspective also determined the Church’s position after the Holocaust as well, despite the declaration against antisemitism.