Which? Or Both...?

A conundrum of uncertainty where the supporters of the Roman Catholic Church and the role of Pius XII during the Second World War insist that he performed his moral and religious duties, against the claims of those, mostly Jews, who fault him for not having had the courage to defy German anti-Semitism might be solved by the opening up of the Vatican library to scholars eager to delve into its voluminous files.

The Vatican has chosen, despite the controversy, to deny any lack of diligence on the part of the former pope in performing his religious duties and in doing his utmost to save the lives of Jews destined for death. While there is room for gratitude that Roman Catholic Nuns were inspired to take in and protect Jewish children from the Nazi death machine, there are matching accusations that the children were inducted into Christianity, leaving their Judaic heritage.

That the humanitarian desire to save the lives of these children was dominated by the religious desire to save their souls, leading them to salvation through the auspices of adapting to Roman Catholicism. Through underground networks, it is claimed that Jews were spirited to safety and many saved through the quiet and timely intervention of the Vatican connection, with Pope Pius XII issuing directives, unwilling to draw untoward attention to his activities.

Giving scholars access to the Vatican archives from the reign of Pope Pius XII might stifle the debate. It could possibly render information that would validate the claims made in defence of this war-time pope. Or, it could equally conceivably give credence to the accusations of Nazi-Vatican compliance believed by many who criticize that era of Vatican activity in an Italy consumed by fascism, part of the Axis block during World War II.

Now, a reputedly old friend of the current pope, has surfaced with information that it is his belief that Pope Francis is prepared to open the Vatican archives to scholarly scrutiny. Rabbi Abraham Skorka claims to have discussed the role of Pius XII, known to his critics as "Hitler's Pope", at some length with a man now elevated to head of the Church of Rome, and formerly a personal friend when he was Archbishop of Buenos Aires.

It seems to the casual onlooker and news reader that it might have been more courteous for the good rabbi to have waited before making his public declaration. Surely, a friend might have recognized the necessity of such a declaration emanating from the thought, determination and mouth of the individual who is himself responsible for making such a decision. A decision fraught with concern and responsibility.

One might be excused from believing that a friend might have the delicacy of diplomacy and concern to be patient and to be certain before implicating a man who has just entered a challenging position unlike any other, to reveal his intentions, himself. And who may now find himself in a challenging position he would far prefer not to contemplate at this juncture.