Catholic monasteries sheltered Jews during World War II: documents

Researchers have found new documents that corroborate reports that Catholic convents and monasteries in Rome sheltered Jews during World War II. According to the researchers, the documents list the names of at least 3,200 Jews who have been identified as members of the city’s Jewish community. Researchers from the Pontifical Bible Institute, Israel’s Yad Vashem Holocaust Research Institute and the Jewish Community of Rome presented their findings at an academic conference on Thursday at the Shoah Museum, part of Rome’s main synagogue.

The documents do not shed any light on the role of the then Pope Pius XII during the Nazi occupation of Rome. Pius’ legacy has been long debated among historians. His supporters claim he used diplomacy to save Jews, while critics say he remained silent when Jews living in Rome next to the Vatican were arrested and deported. The Pontifical Bible Institute, Yad Vashem and the Jewish community of Rome said in a joint statement that the new document lists the names and addresses of those who were given shelter in Catholic institutions during the war.

Earlier, the contemporary historian of Italy, Renzo de Felice, had mentioned it vaguely in his 1961 book. The document was found in the archives of the Biblical Institute, which is affiliated with the Jesuit-run Pontifical Gregorian University, according to the statement. It lists over 4,300 people who were given shelter in religious properties of 100 women and 55 men. Of those, 3,600 have been identified by name, the statement said, and research in the archives of Rome’s Jewish community shows that 3,200 were definitely Jewish.

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