Plans for Pope Pius XII museum revealed

The Smiling Pope Pius XII

 

 

Rome, Italy, June 15 (CNA/EWTN News)
.- A leading Italian politician is giving his support to plans for a
museum in Rome to commemorate the memory of the wartime pontiff, Pope
Pius XII.

"I've
taken on the impetus of this important idea that wishes to give the
proper place in history to this great Pope," Italian Senator Stefano De
Lillo told CNA.

"During
his life he was exalted by all, and at the time of his death the Prime
Minister of Israel, Golda Meir, said that he died a 'grande giusto' – a
'great, just man.'"

The
plans for the museum are at an early stage but they have already been
discussed at an international conference organized by Sen. De Lillo this
month. The idea has also gained the support of the former Italian Prime
Minister Giulio Andreotti.

One
of the biggest stumbling blocks, however, is the continually recycled
accusation that Pope Pius didn't do enough during the war to save Jews
from persecution. Sen. De Lillo hopes the new museum can help set the
record straight.

"There
are so many writings from Italian and Roman Jews who thank the Pope for
having permitted them to seek refuge in convents, institutes and
churches throughout Rome. It is estimated that at least 5,000 people
were saved through the direct action of the Pope."

"We
can say that a museum of this type can help give back a just historical
truth, in full harmony with our elder brothers of the Jewish religion,
with whom our rapport is extremely good," the Italian lawmaker said.

The
museum idea was initially given to Sen. De Lillo by the 90-year-old New
Jersey nun, Sister Margherita Marchione, who has been campaigning since
1995 to clear the name of Pope Pius XII. In fact, over the past 16
years she's become one of his leading biographers.

Sen.
De Lillo says the museum would "bring together all of the documentation
that the sister possesses, along with other documentation possessed by
other sites."

He also wants to mark what he sees as the bravery and loyalty of Pope Pius towards the citizens of Rome during the war.

"Thanks
to Pope Pius XII, Rome was declared an 'open city' during the Second
World War so it was prohibited by an international convention to bomb
the city," Sen. De Lillo recalled.

Actually
both before and after the granting of this status in 1943, Rome was
bombed by both Allied and Axis powers. But unlike the Italian king,
Victor Emmanuel III, and the country's dictator, Benito Mussolini, who
fled Rome due to the threat of bombing, Pope Pius XII remained in the
city throughout.

"After
the war, the citizens and the city of Rome put up a plaque in Pius XII
Square near the Vatican thanking the Pope for having saved Rome," the
senator noted.

The
Romans also honored him with the title "Defensor Civitatis" or
"Defender of the City," which is the name Senator De Lillo would like to
give to the new museum.

POPE PIUS IX ON THE VICAR OF CHRIST ON EARTH

Pope Pius IX on The Authority of the Successor of St. Peter as Vicar of Christ on earth. Is Lefebvre and his SSPX exempted from this Authority?

AMANTISSIMUS

ON THE CARE OF THE CHURCHES

ENCYCLICAL OF POPE PIUS IX

APRIL 8, 1862

To the Bishops of the Eastern Churches.

Venerable Brothers, Greetings and Apostolic Benediction.

Our most beloved Redeemer, Christ the Lord, willed as you well know, venerable brothers, to deliver all men from the captivity of the devil, free them from the yoke of sin, call them from darkness into his wonderful light and be their salvation. When he had blotted out the handwriting of the decree against us, fastening it to the cross, he formed and established the Catholic Church, won by his blood, as the one "Church of the living God,"[1] the one "kingdom of heaven,"[2] "the city set on a hill,"[3] "one flock,"[4] and "one body" steadfast and alive with "one Spirit,"[5] one faith, one hope, one love joined and firmly held together by the same bonds of sacraments, religion and doctrine. He further provided his Church with leaders whom he chose and called. In addition, he decreed that the Church will endure as long as the world, embrace all peoples and nations of the whole world, and that whoever accepts his divine religion and grace and perseveres to the end will attain the glory of eternal salvation.

2. To preserve forever in his Church the unity and doctrine of this faith, Christ chose one of his apostles, Peter, whom he appointed the Prince of his Apostles, his Vicar on earth, and IMPREGNABLE FOUNDATION and head of his Church. Surpassing all others with EVERY DIGNITY of EXTRAORDINARY AUTHORITY, POWER AND JURISDICTION, he was to feed the Lord's flock, strengthen his brothers, rule and govern the universal Church. Christ not only desired that his Church remain as one and immaculate to the end of the world, and that its unity in faith, doctrine and form of government remain inviolate. He also willed that the FULLNESS of dignity, power and jurisdiction, integrity and stability of faith given to Peter be handed down in its entirety to the Roman Pontiffs, the successors of this same Peter, who have been placed on this Chair of Peter in Rome, and to whom has been divinely committed the SUPREME care of the Lord's entire flock and the SUPREME rule of the Universal Church.

Let us ask then, How come the SSPX refuses to submit to the full authority of the Holy Father?