VATICAN ARCHIVES: ARCHIVIST CONFIRMS PARTIAL

UNCLAS VATICAN 005356

SIPDIS

DEPT. FOR EUR/WE (MENNUTI),EUR/PA/PD (PICKREL),EUR/RHA
(BELL),EUR/AGS, DRL

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL GM VT
SUBJECT: VATICAN ARCHIVES: ARCHIVIST CONFIRMS PARTIAL
OPENING FOR NAZI GERMANY AND WWII DOCUMENTS

REF: VATICAN 0819


1. CHIEF VATICAN ARCHIVIST CARDINAL JORGE MEIJA CONFIRMED
OCTOBER 29 THE VATICAN'S ACCELERATED TIMETABLE FOR THE
RELEASE OF MATERIAL RELATING TO WORLD WAR II AND THE
PONTIFICATE OF PIUS XII, AS PREVIOUSLY REPORTED BY POST
(REFTEL). MATERIAL PERTAINING TO VATICAN ASSISTANCE TO
PRISONERS OF WAR WILL BE RELEASED IN JANUARY 2003. THIS
UNCLASSIFIED

PAGE 02 VATICA 05356 311605Z
RELEASE WILL ENCOMPASS 3.5 MILLION FILES AND LETTERS ON SIX
CD-ROMS. MATERIAL ON THE PRE-WAR ACTIVITIES OF POPE PIUS
XII IN GERMANY WHEN HE SERVED AS APOSTOLIC NUNCIO IN BERLIN
WILL BE MADE AVAILABLE IN JANUARY 2005. THE VATICAN ALSO
ANNOUNCED IT HAD INCREASED ITS PERSONNEL WORKING TO
CATALOGUE DOCUMENTS.


2. COMMENT: THE VATICAN'S CONFIRMATION OF THE ACCELERATED
DOCUMENT TIMETABLE IS A WELCOME SIGN AND INDICATES
COGNIZANCE OF INTERNATIONAL CALLS FOR WORLD WAR II ARCHIVE
MATERIAL TO BE RELEASED AS A MATTER OF JUSTICE. THIS
TIMETABLE ALSO REFLECTS THE HOLY SEE'S DESIRE TO BEGIN
PUTTING THE CONTROVERSY OVER PIUS XII AND HIS ROLE BEHIND
THEM.

NICHOLSON

UNCLASSIFIED

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2002VATICA05356 - Classification: UNCLASSIFIED