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Soldier of Christ: The Life of Pope Pius XII Hardcover – January 15, 2013

by Robert A. Ventresca (Author)
3.8 out of 5 stars 13 customer reviews
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Product Details

  • Hardcover: 432 pages
  • Publisher: The Belknap Press (January 15, 2013)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0674049616
  • ISBN-13: 978-0674049611
  • Product Dimensions: 6.4 x 1.3 x 9.3 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #706,722 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Top Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 starsA controversial pope
By Paul Gelman on January 3, 2013
Format: Hardcover Verified Purchase
Pius the Twelfth is considered one of the most controversial popes who had ever sat on the Vatican's throne. The main reason is because of the ongoing debate regarding the pope's silence or indifference to the plight of the Jews and other victims during WW2.
According to this new book by Robert Ventresca, the pope was not indifferent or silent about the Holocaust. He did whatever he could and the proof for this is in the many ackowledgements he got after the war by various central Jewsih figures, among them the Chieff Rabbi of Jerusalem. Second, this was the way Pius worked and was trained to, while delegating much authority to his many nuncios in the various occupied countries in the war.
This very well and deeply researched biography is extremely interesting and it discusses in great detail the pope's education and his views viv-a-vis Fascism and Communism-the two evils which concerned Pius.
Although Ventresca makes many efforts to present the pope as a benevolent one when discussing at great length the pope's efforts to save many thousands of Jews, one feels that even Ventresca isn't quite convinced about this issue.
All in all, this is a fascinating read and highly recommended.
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4.0 out of 5 starsNice public-career biography and a good step towards a fuller biography of the man
By Dalcassian on February 19, 2014
Format: Kindle Edition Verified Purchase
With all the debates about Eugenio Pacelli (Pius XII), one might think there would be a large number of basic biographical studies about him in English. But there isn't. This book, however, begins to fill that absence. "Begins to fill" is the operative phrase because Ventresca's work remains, like much other writing, more an examination of Pacelli's public career and decision-making than a deep look at, or engaging narrative about, the person himself.

But the book is still worth reading for its many strengths alone. Like any reasonable study of Pius XII -- outside the slander-leaning "Hitler's Pope" and such like -- it shows him to be a complex and even warm, kind-hearted person, yet still liable to be severely criticized for his actions and inactions especially throughout World War II. The book makes clear that while Pius/Pacelli was certainly hostile to Naziism and Communism for both religious and secular reasons, he was also overwhelmed by circumstances well beyond his control. He was additionally constrained by his diplomatic and preservationist instincts and governed by an overly intellectual temperament. And all that coincided with the fact that he held a weak hand as representative of an increasingly rejected Church, possessing limited and rapidly diminishing power in a modern warring world while his headquarters were more often than not surrounded by Axis security forces.

The buffeted Pacelli/Pius in this book comes across as either the right man at the wrong time or the wrong man at the wrong time. The heavy focus and research on the career of Pius XII means the reader is given strong material to use to decide which verdict he or she favors.Read more ›
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4.0 out of 5 starsAn Overall Excellent Biography
By Randy Rousseau on August 9, 2013
Format: Hardcover Verified Purchase
Euegnio Pacelli, later Pope Pius XII, has been the subject of intense debate and scrutiny since his pontificate ended in 1958. Namely was he "The Silent Pope" who stood idly by while Europe's Jews were slaughtered during the Second World War?

This biography walks a rather fine line, mostly, in attempting to present a complete picture of both man and times in context. However, there are a couple of instances where the author's obvious personal opinion slips in and he faults the Pope for failing a certain moral obligation to be more outspoken against Hitler. This is unfortunate as it, in my opinion, diminishes an otherwise very fine book.
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5.0 out of 5 starsScholarly work on controversial pope
By Efrem Sepulveda on June 12, 2013
Format: Hardcover
Robert Ventresca presents us with a balanced presentation of life of Eugenio Pacelli who went on to become Pope Pius XII who held the office from 1939 to 1958. When I state that it was balanced, I mean that the book finds a middle ground between those who spoke glowingly of the pope's stands during World War II and the Cold War and those, especially Jews who were bitterly disappointed that the pope did not do nearly enough to prevent the horrors of the Holocaust. In any event, the book traces the life of Pacelli from birth and early life in Rome, through his time as nuncio in Germany to becoming the Vatican Secretary of State under Pius XI, an office he would hold until his elevation to Pope.

Under Pacelli's watch, he negotiated concordats with both Italy and Germany that would establish relations between the Vatican and the two countries. In the case of Italy, it would settle the many disputes over land and money that were in limbo from the time after the fall of the Papal States in 1870 until the pact's ratification in 1929. The pact guaranteed Vatican sovereignty of Vatican City. As for Germany, the Reichskonkordat, as it was known, was shaky even after the ink was dry on that document. Pacelli constantly protested to Berlin about the many times the pact was violated. Protestations included the harassment of Catholic clergy and the intimidation of Catholic youth into forsaking their church organizations to join the Hitler Youth. Despite hearing the Vatican's concerns over these incidents, Hitler brushed off the leadership in Rome as he was his way to obtaining total power in Germany.Read more ›
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

2.0 out of 5 starsOmits important, more recent research

Having read Soldier of Christ: The Life of Pope Pius XII, I was surprised that it had not included more recent publications. Namely, Disinformation by I. Pacepa and R. Read more

Published on December 17, 2013 by Marilyn
4.0 out of 5 starsA Clarification of many uncertainties.

There has been so much discussion and criticism of Pius XII, it is good to read about the actual works done byhim, especiallyn re. the saving of manyJewish lives from the nazis.

Published on October 20, 2013 by Robert Hindley
4.0 out of 5 starsIndepth and well written

you will want to read this book, as it agrees with actual events during WWII. its has passed to several other keen readers.

Published on September 12, 2013 by funkylama
4.0 out of 5 starsobjective

The more I read the more convinced I because he was as his secretary said "a great man but not a Saint". Read more

Published on July 15, 2013 by Robert M. Fitzpatrick
3.0 out of 5 starsHistory buffs would love it, but not written like a traditional...

This book is interesting at times, but it does not grab my attention right away. It is not written in the traditional biography form (story format). Read more

Published on July 2, 2013 by Rachael
4.0 out of 5 starsA quality biography that treat Pius XII as a complete person

Ventresca has written the best biography of Pius XII yet available. He treats the whole person. Pius is placed within the context of a Catholic Church which was extremely rigid... Read more

Published on May 2, 2013 by Michael B. Lamothe
5.0 out of 5 starsExcellent.

This was a truly wonderful and thoughtful biography a singularly holy and thoughtful man. Holy Church was blessed to have him as her Earthly Head during WWII.

Published on April 15, 2013 by Unabashed Papist
5.0 out of 5 starsDefinitive biography of Pius XII

The biography is solidly researched, written with good fluency, and does much to put Pius XII (Eugenio Pacelli) in a proper light. Read more

Published on March 19, 2013 by G. M. Seely
1.0 out of 5 starsNeeds a better title

Pius XII: Soldier of Hitler

Pius XII, the man who permitted 4,000 Jews to be rounded up within sight of his own bedroom window and sent Hitler birthday greetings every... Read more

Published on March 6, 2013 by Xerxes

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