Gulf Pine Catholic

Gulf Pine Catholic • March 22, 2019 7 U.S. cardinal welcomes opening of Vatican documents on Pope Pius XII By Catholic News Service WASHINGTON (CNS) -- New York Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan March 12 praised Pope Francis’ recent announcement regarding the opening of the Vatican Secret Archives from the wartime pontificate of Pope Pius XII. “I am grateful to His Holiness for taking this welcome step and allowing scholars to examine the records of Pope Pius XII’s pon- tificate during the Second World War,” Cardinal Dolan said in a statement as co- chair of the U.S. Conference of catholic Bishops’ dialogue with the National Council of Synagogues. “Along with our Jewish partners and col- leagues, I have previously called for access to these files. Today, we look forward to the 2020 opening of the archives,” the cardinal added. Researchers, particularly those interested in Catholic-Jewish relations, have pressed the Vatican to open the archives and allow a full study of Pope Pius’ actions during the war, including what he did or failed to do for Jews during the Holocaust. Declaring that the Catholic Church is unafraid of history, Pope Francis announced that the documents will be open to scholars in 2020. “The church is not afraid of history, on the contrary, she loves it and would like to love it more and better, just as she loves God. Therefore, with the same confidence as my predecessors, I open and entrust to researchers” this wealth of documents,” Pope Francis said. He met March 4 with supervisors, staff mem- bers and assistants work- ing at the Vatican Secret Archives during an audi- Pope Pius XII, who led the Catholic Church from 1939 to 1958, is pictured in this undated photo at the Vatican. New York Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan, co- chair of the U.S. bishops’ dialogue with the National Council of Synagogues, said March 12 he welcomed Pope Francis’ recent announcement on opening of the Vatican Archives from the wartime pontificate. CNS photo/Vatican Media ence to mark the 80th anniversary of Pope Pius XII’s election March 2, 1939. As a U.S. leader in Catholic-Jewish rela- tions, Cardinal Dolan has actively called for the release of these documents since becom- ing archbishop of New York in 2009. “Whatever is needed to complete this proj- ect, even in phases rather than only as a whole, I suggest must be explored,” he said in 2011 in a speech at Jewish Theological Seminary. “I echo Pope Francis’ sentiment that sin- cere historical research will present an opportunity to grow in public understand- ing,” Cardinal Dolan said in his statement. “I pray it will bring about a new era in which Catholic and Jewish scholars, who have deepened their trust and friendship, can con- tinue working together to examine this important new material.” Rabbi David Straus, senior rabbi of Main Line Reform Temple in Wynnewood, Pennsylvania, and co-chair of the USCCB dialogue with the National Council of Synagogues, echoed Cardinal Dolan’s senti- ments, saying, “We look forward to this new moment of openness, which will only build upon our previous work together, and, we pray, continue to strengthen our relationships, friendships, understandings of each other in our important work together.” “Our shared commit- ment to making the facts known can only serve to demonstrate the mutuali- ty of respect and concern that is reflected in Pope Francis’ decision,” he said in a statement, which was released by the USCCB’s Office of Public Affairs along with Cardinal Dolan’s state- ment. To advertise in the Gulf Pine Catholic, call 228-702-2109 for more information.