Whether by intent or otherwise, author Peter Eisner skillfully leads readers of the Second World War era to familiar,unforgettably wrenching places. His remarkable book is solidly crafted, although some textual curiosities do appear occcasionally. Pope Adrian, the Britisher?
Thanks to this historical narrative, long standing questions continue to haunt me. Is the Roman Catholic Church the only "true" religion in its witness of the divine on earth? To what extent should one subordinate and entrust his or her moral compass to the expectations of institutional authority? Can absolute evil, despite the good intentions of those who oppose it, drive human destiny unalterably to the abyss?
We read of a middle aged Jesuit priest, Fr. John LaFarge, SJ who, from the moment of his youthful ordination decades earlier, has faithfully professed a vow of obedience to both his Order's superior in the Vatican establishment, and ultimately to the Pope himself. Summoned by the latter without the knowledge of the former, he is commissioned by Pope Pius XI to craft a papal encyclical which would categorically denounce racism as evil nonsence. Moreover, the proposed encyclical was especially intended to condemn anti semitism, driven incrementally as it was, towards the lethal horors of Hitlerian Nazi Germany.
Alarmed by the issuance of such a likely inflammatory encyclical as they saw it, Cardinal Pacelli, the future Pope Pius XII, and Fr. Wlodimir Ledochowski, superior general of the Jesuit Order housed in the Vatican, contrived to block the encyclical from ever seeing the light of day. They were convinced that an increasingly unavoidable Second World War was about to consume Europe. In that event, the very existence of the Roman Catholic Church, including the Vatican itself, could, in their view, be mauled to ruins by a crazed Hitler bent on revenge.
Hving crafted a final draft of the encyclical, LeFarge found himmself hemed in between his responsibility to conscience, and his solemn vow of obedience two opposing forces in the institutional church. Moreover, serious family issues and personal health concers, urged him to return to the United States while he could do so before war broke out. Having embarked on a transatlantic crossing, he chose to entrust the final drafts of the encyclical to "trustworthy" prelates at the Vatican. There the document came to languish aimlessly, deliberately side tracked by Vatican insiders, including Fr. Ledochowski and Cardinal Pacelli. All the while, the gravely ailing Pope Pius XI, aware that his days were numbered, held on for several months. The pontif was expectant, as Lefarge had promised, that he would personally deliver the encyclical draft to the dying Pope before the pontiff's time ran out.
Some historians claim that the fate of thousands, perhaps millions of people, turned on the Vatican to sound the alarm as gales of profound wickedness had begun howling about through most of Europe. Clearly, by 1938 European politics drifted alarmingly towards an unimaginale mightware. The ideology of Nazi Germany was raging hatefully everywhere without challenge. A seemingly overwhelming surge of some horrific destiny had taken charge, driving human affairs to the vry brink of madness. One might wonder: if it were the only true witnes of God on Earth, as claimed by the Roman Catholic Church, why did its leadership seem to priortize its worldly assets far above its spiritual mission? Some might ask whether Father LeFarge should have yielded more responsively to the inner call of his conscience. But one might also ask whether compliance to the demands of vows taken legitimately before a higher authority is of equivalent moral gravity.
Surely, Father LeFarge's search for Truth lead to both bleak dungeons and luminous cathedrals. Was he struggling in a world where Hope, Faith, and Spirituality were impotent before a blind destiny, as was the case of World War II? Or might the force of justice, good will, and aspiration enable humanity to prevail, even in the most evil of times?
The Pope's Last Crusade contributes to that debate.
Richard Lager
Colrain, MA
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