Vatican urged to open archives on Nazi era

An influential German cardinal has called for the Vatican to open all of its Nazi-era archives for the first time to help to defuse persistent criticism that the Roman Catholic Church, and in particular Pope Pius XII, failed to speak out against the Holocaust.

The Vatican has been under pressure for years by Jewish groups to release its wartime archive material, particularly in light of its plans to beatify Pius. It announced in February that it would open parts of its archives beginning next year to help to end speculation about his actions.

In an interview with Stern magazine, Cardinal Karl Lehmann, Bishop of Mainz, argued for the archives to be opened completely, saying it would help to put an end to allegations that incriminating documents were being deliberately withheld. "We have to acknowledge the whole truth. I'm sure much also would be found to exonerate the church," Cardinal Lehmann said.

Catholic leaders are alleged to have actively supported the Nazi takeover in Germany and turned a blind eye to the fate of the Jews to safeguard their own power and because of the church's deep-seated anti-Semitism.

Cardinal Lehmann said Pius used discreet diplomacy to help Jews and other victims, and "feared that a sharp word could cost more lives", but he acknowledged that the church didn't do enough to speak out for Jews. "They saw their responsibility mostly for their own people," he said. "One has to be dismayed about that."