Pope Pius XII

The Reichskonkordat

In June 1933 Adolf Hitler signed a peace agreement with most of Europe, called the Four-Power Pact. In July as Secretary of State to Pope Pius XI, Pacelli signed the concordat with Germany (see image) while Foreign Secretary von Papen signed for Germany. This was shortly after Germany had signed similar agreements with the major Protestant churches in Germany.

Related Topics:
1933 - Adolf Hitler - Four-Power Pact - Pope Pius XI - Protestant

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[[Image:konkordat.jpg|frame|The Holy See, signs the concordat that secured religious freedom for German Catholics and political independence for German Catholic clergy. Cardinal Pacelli, representing the Holy See, signs the "Reichskonkordat" on July 20, 1933 in Rome.

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From left to right: German Vice-Chancellor Franz von Papen, representing Germany,

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Giuseppe Pizzardo, Pacelli, Alfredo Cardinal Ottaviani, German ambassador Rudolf Buttmann]]

Related Topics:
Giuseppe Pizzardo - Alfredo Cardinal Ottaviani - Rudolf Buttmann

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The signing of the actual Reichskonkordat has always been controversial, having given important international acceptance to Hitler's regime. The 3 June encyclical Dilectissima Nobis, in which Pius XI protested against anti-Church policies in republican Spain, stated that the Church found no difficulty in adapting herself to various civil institutions, be they monarchic or republican, aristocratic or democratic, provided the divine rights of God and of Christian consciences were safe.

Related Topics:
Reichskonkordat - 3 June - Dilectissima Nobis - Spain

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Critics of the Concordat claim it linked the Roman Catholic Church too closely with Nazism, while defenders of the concordat argue that it was an attempt to protect the Church from anti-Church policies by the new government.

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Both Hitler and Pacelli saw the Reichskonkordat as a victory for their respective sides. Hitler told his cabinet on 14 July:

Related Topics:
Reichskonkordat - 14 July

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::"An opportunity has been given to Germany in the Reichskonkordat and a sphere of influence has been created that will be especially significant in the urgent struggle against international Jewry."

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Pacelli, in a two page article in the Vatican influenced L'Osservatore Romano on 26 July and 27 July ,dismissed Hitler's assertion that the concordat in any way represented or implied approval for national socialism, much less moral approval of it. He argued that its true purpose had been

Related Topics:
26 July - 27 July

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::"not only the official recognition (by the Reich) of the legislation of the Church (its Code of Canon Law), but the adoption of many provisions of this legislation and the protection of all Church legislation."{{fn|2}}

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