The Pope at War

By David I. Kertzer,

Book cover of The Pope at War: The Secret History of Pius XII, Mussolini, and Hitler

Book description

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • “The most important book ever written about the Catholic Church and its conduct during World War II.”—Daniel Silva

“Kertzer brings all of his usual detective and narrative skills to [The Pope at War] . . . the most comprehensive account of the Vatican’s relations to…

When you buy books, we may earn a commission that helps keep our lights on (or join the rebellion as a member).

Why read it?

1 author picked The Pope at War as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

Whether Pius XII collaborated with Fascism and Nazism during the 1940s remains controversial.

Pope Francis’ decision to open the Vatican’s files relating to the Second World War in March 2020 has been game-changing. David Kertzer was the first scholar to access these files and publish an in-depth study on Pope Pacelli’s role during WWII.

The result has been both moving and disturbing in equal measure. Kertzer reveals in his lyrically written book the Pope’s disturbing willingness to negotiate with Hitler and Mussolini, maintaining a rigid diplomatic silence on the atrocities they committed. Despite this, Pius XII was often willing to…

Want books like The Pope at War?

Our community of 12,000+ authors has personally recommended 100 books like The Pope at War.

Browse books like The Pope at War

Book cover of Faith and Fatherland: Parish Politics in Hitler's Germany
Book cover of The Polish Catholic Church Under German Occupation: The Reichsgau Wartheland, 1939-1945
Book cover of Pope and Devil: The Vatican's Archives and the Third Reich

Share your top 3 reads of 2024!

And get a beautiful page showing off your 3 favorite reads.

1,206

readers submitted
so far, will you?

5 book lists we think you will like!

Interested in the Holocaust, presidential biography, and Germany?

The Holocaust 414 books
Germany 491 books