World War II
The Latest
Church beatifies German priest who was executed by Nazis in 1944
Father Max Josef Metzger, executed by Nazis in 1944 for promoting peace and Christian unity, was beatified Sunday in Freiburg,... Read more
Vatican commemorates 80th anniversary of Pius XII’s meeting with Allied troops
On June 12, 1944, Pius XII gave an enthusiastic speech in English thanking the members of the 38th (Irish) Brigade... Read more
On D-Day anniversary, Pope Francis prays for men who start and prolong wars
“People want peace!” the pope wrote in a June 5 message. “They want conditions of stability, security, and prosperity in... Read more
Remembering 3 heroic chaplains on the 80th anniversary of D-Day
The extraordinary courage of these clergymen should never be forgotten. Read more
Documents identify thousands of Jews hidden by Catholic religious during Nazi occupation of Rome
The newly rediscovered documentation references more than 4,300 people hidden by 100 women’s religious congregations and 55 men’s religious congregations. Read more
Cardinal Marx apologizes for later bishop’s role in WWII massacre
Before he ascended to the rank of auxiliary bishop in the Archdiocese of Munich and Freising in 1968, Matthias Defregger... Read more
The ‘Four Chaplains,’ selfless heroes of WWII, honored on 80th anniversary of their deaths
A New Jersey parish church on Sunday honor the “Four Chaplains” who sacrificed their lives to save others on the... Read more
University to host center for study of Polish Catholics and Jews who saved lives under Nazism and communism
The center will be based at the John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin. Read more
Heroic Catholic priest described as a ‘guardian angel’ in WWII is beatified
Blessed Giovanni Fornasini was killed while trying to bury victims of a Nazi massacre. Read more
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Inside the search for Polish Catholic sisters killed by the Red Army and on the path to beatification
The sisters were brutally mistreated by Soviet soldiers in 1945. Have their bodies finally been recovered? Read more
Catholic cycling champion who saved Jews during World War II honored in Assisi
Gino Bartali helped to save more than 800 Jews from Nazi persecution. Read more
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Polish Catholics commemorate fifth of diocesan priests killed in World War II
Around 2,000 of Poland’s 10,000 diocesan priests perished during the Nazi German occupation. Read more
Polish Catholic bishop: Warsaw Ghetto Uprising anniversary is ‘an appeal to love one’s neighbor’
The uprising -- the largest single Jewish revolt of World War II -- was launched 78 years ago Read more
Book gives more insight into the actions of Pius XII and his 'bureau' during WWII
A new book provides further information from the archives of Venerable Pius XII, including the Vatican’s attempts to oppose the... Read more
Cardinal Dziwisz: heed St. John Paul II’s appeal for peace on World War II anniversary
The world needs once again to hear St. John Paul II’s appeal for an end to war, Cardinal Stanisław Dziwisz... Read more
Polish bishops recall service of priests, nuns during Warsaw Uprising
Commemorating the 76th anniversary of the Warsaw Uprising against the Nazis, the Catholic bishops of Poland released a reflection on... Read more
Catholics in US called to solidarity with Japan ahead of atomic bomb anniversary
For the upcoming anniversary of the detonation of two atomic bombs on Japan, the US bishops have encouraged Catholics to... Read more
Cardinal’s notes give depth to research in Venerable Pius XII archives
The Vatican’s apostolic archives reopened to researchers in June after a nearly three-month closure because of the pandemic. Read more
Scholars dispute charge of Pius XII Holocaust cover-up
Scholars say charges made last month that Pope Pius XII covered-up the Vatican’s knowledge of the Holocaust are based on... Read more
Catholics honor the priests killed at Dachau, remember 75th liberation anniversary
When the U.S. Army arrived at Dachau concentration camp 75 years ago, on April 29, 1945, the clergy held captive... Read more
