The Vatican in the Age of the Dictators (1922–1945) by Anthony Rhodes (review)

:BOOK REVIEWS 669 The Vatican in the Age of the Dictators (1922-1945). By Anthony Rhodes. Holt, Rinehart and Winston, 1973. Pp. 383. $12.50. It is a commonly held view that the papacy has had great influence upon secular events in the modern world. Thus, popes have been condemned or applauded: Pius XI's signing of the Lateran Accords has been seen by liberal historians as contributing to the rise of Fascism in Italy, and the failure of Pius XII to speak out firmly against the destruction of the European Jews has been portrayed as a significant factor in the holocaust . The fact is, however, that the modern papacy has been far more influenced by the circumstances of the secular world than influencing them. Mr. Rhodes appreciates this fact in his study of the papacy and its relations with other countries from the accession of Pius XI in 1922 to the end of World War II under Pius XII. His book is comprehensive in scope and powerfully written: he describes papal problems surrounding such important events as the rise of Mussolini, the Reich Concordat, the Spanish Republic and Civil War, and the condemnation of Action Frangaise. Almost half of the book is given over to a study of papal relations with Nazi Germany and the events of World War II. Even such relatively minor areas as relations with the Soviet Union and problems with the British in Malta are dwelt upon in great detail. No author has given us a more comprehensive view. Rhodes' thesis is that Pius XI broke sharply with the policies of his predecessor in relying less upon Catholic political parties and more upon concordats and papal diplomacy to protect the threatened rights of Catholies in the unstable countries; thus the disappearance of the Popolari in Italy and the Centre in Germany. In fact, of course, the departure of these parties was less the result of papal intervention than of Fascist and Nazi oppression . Pius XII, Rhodes shows, was faced with almost insurmountable problems with the outbreak of the War. He spent the war years trying to safeguard not just the rights but the lives as well of Catholics in the occupied countries, and he tried to preserve papal neutrality so that he could offer Vatican services for peace negotiations. These factors and his excessive fear of Communism led to his " silence " on the destruction of the Jews. Unfortunately, for so excellent a book, it must be used with a strong caveat. Rhodes' principal sources are German and British foreign office reports. While this makes them invaluable for the story of German-papal relations, they are much less reliable for other areas, with result that Spain, France, and Italy come through strongly colored by German and British impressions . Nor has Rhodes checked all of his facts: numerous minor errors creep in (Pius XI did not found Catholic Action, it was Benedict XV who lifted the non-expedit, the Spanish Republic never had a fully accredited ambassador to the Holy until 1936, etc.) . But, these errors do not affect his general interpretation. 670 BOOK REVIEWS Despite the Vatican's ineffectiveness in the modem world, there is a fascination about its activities far in excess of its influence. Vatican gossip is always more interesting that that of any other government. Part of this has to do with tradition and manners; part of it is that juxtaposition of secular and sacred so well illustrated by the remark made by the Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Gasparri, when the French Ambassador accused him of lying: " the Cardinal cooly replied that he was merely doing what all diplomats did, and that in any case the Pope would give him absolution if necessary." Jos:E M. SA.NcHEZ Saint Louis University St. Louis, Missouri The Inquisition. By John A. O'Brien. New York: Macmillan Publishing Co. Inc., 1973. Pp. 233. $6.95. The present volume, by a well-known Catholic scholar, traces the history and operation of the Inquisition in its medieval, Spanish, and Roman forms. It closes with chapters on several celebrated cases that came before the Inquisition-of Joan of Arc, Savonarola, and Galileo-and a final chapter entitled, A...