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LA Popessa Hardcover – May, 1983

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Paul I. Murphy (Author)
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Paul I. Murphy (Author), R. Rene Arlington (Author)
4.5 out of 5 stars 33 customer reviews
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Product Details

  • Hardcover: 325 pages
  • Publisher: Warner Books, Inc.; 1st edition (May 1983)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0446512583
  • ISBN-13: 978-0446512589
  • Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.2 x 1.5 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds
  • Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (33 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #598,679 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Top Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 starsOutstanding. A Must Read.
By A Customer on July 17, 2004
Format: Hardcover Verified Purchase
The inside story of Pope Pius XII, based on extensive interviews and writings of Sister Mary Pascalina, who started as his housekeeper when he was Papal Nuncio in Munich and carrying on through her ywars at the Vatican, where she was, in all but title, his confidential secretary and confidant. She was roundly hated by the Vatican bureaucracy for her unbending adherance to Pius's wishes, preventing him from being disturbed incessantly by those who loved to flout their position at the Vatican by their propensity to "drop in" on the Pope whenever they wished. All sorts of Vatican officials, including Cardinals, sought her ouster but Pius would have none of it. The Roman Curia of that day was very much male dominated and highly chauvinistic.
The book puts the lie once and for all to the notion that the Catholic Church abandoned Jews to Hitler during WWII. In fact, as the book reveals, the Papacy saved more Jews from the Germans than all other public and private relief agencies combined. Pius XII, a master of diplomacy, negotiated brilliantly with the Nazi commandant of the German occupation force to bring this about. At the same time he walked a treacherous tightrope between too harsh a condemnation of Hitler, which he knew would result in the massacre of all Catholic priests and nuns in Nazi occupied lands - witness the roughly 2,400 Catholic priests that were rounded up and exevuted the moment German forces entered Poland - and too lenient a position toward the Nazis, which would give them the impression they had a license to exterminate the Jews. Also revealed in this book is the shameful inaction of the Allies in sanctioning Hitler, despite Pius's repeated attempts to make them aware of what was happening in the death camps.
All in all it is a fascinating book.Read more ›
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5.0 out of 5 starsAuthor Of New Musical Speaks Out
By Allen M. Dion on December 30, 2000
Format: Paperback
I actually only wanted to encourage everyone to try to read this incredible book. Also, please feel free to visit my web site at lapopessa.com and let me know what you think. Finally, contrary to one of your guest reviewers, I can assure you that the title given to Pascalina, "La Popessa" was not one of endearment or honor. Cardinal Tisserant and others are said to have created this name as a statement of their venemous hate for Sister Pascalina. This remarkable woman, who ran the Vatican as well as oversaw the day to day activities of Pope Pius XII, is one of the great women of the twentieth century. Pascalina is an earlier pioneer of the women's liberation movement in that she made a conscious decision as to how she would live her life. That, she decided, was to walk in the shadow of a man who she was determined to one day see become pope. I truly hope that everyone can read this remarkable book. "La Popessa" has never been publically acknowledged by the church for fear that Pascalina would then have to be credited for so much good that she did during her years in the Vatican. They also feared the nature of the relationship between a nun and a pope - though it was pure and chaste in my opinion. While Pascalina lived in the shadows, and many in the Vatican never even saw her or knew of her existence, she clearly helped change the course of world history. Pascalina is only one of the many millions of couragous women throughout the world who richly deserve credit for making a difference each and every day - whether it be in politics, business, health and human services, the classroom, or as the invaluable homemaker who creates the "sanga". In the end, "La Popessa" tells of one of the great love stories of our time, that between a nun and a pope.Read more ›
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4.0 out of 5 starsAnother Perspective
By Ann Lackey on December 7, 2010
Format: Hardcover
Eugenio Pacelli, nuncio to Germany and later Pius XII, was a man of intelligence and talent. However, he was plagued by health problems throughout his life. As a seminarian, he received a dispensation to study at home where his special needs could be met. Soon after he arrived in Munich, he had to go to Switzerland for care. It was there he come upon Sister Pasqualina, who later became his nurse and housekeeper. Except for a few years in between nuncio and secretariat, Sister took charge of his special needs. As was so typical of him, Eugenio in turn endeavored to broaden her spiritual and intellectual horizons. He appreciated her capabilities and understood the importance of helping Pasqualina fulfill her vocation. For him, Sister was the much needed substitute mother. For her, he was the one who needed to be mothered. While she had good attributes, she also could be possessive and jealous. But he knew how to keep his counsel and his personal space.

This books fails to show Pius' perspective and is exclusively devoted to Pasqualina's view. There are questions regarding the factual nature of this book. To lessen that concern, one needs to make certain the facts one choses can be substantiated by other sources or properly surmised by reason and context. Sister did grew substantially under Pius' tutelage and she made some good contributions. My objection is that this book makes her, not Eugenio, the teacher. That is what I refer to as the Pasqualina perception.
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5.0 out of 5 starsRich history
By Thomas J Van Etten on March 16, 2013
Format: Hardcover Verified Purchase
I love this book. Second time reading it and now I have my own copy. Rich in history and insight into Pius XII, World War II, The Holocoust and this beautiful relationship that Pius XII and Mother Pascalina had.
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