New Jersey Nun Fighting To Clear Pius XII's Name

She may turn 90 next year, but Sister Margherita Marchione still has pretty important work to do - clearing the name of the wartime Pope Pius XII and seeing him beatified.

'I for one will fight to the very end to make sure that that happens because no one deserves it more than he,' the New Jersey sister told CNA June 7, during a visit to Rome.

Sr. Marchione is in Rome to address a conference on Pope Pius XII, which is being hosted by the Italian Senate. Pope Pius occupied the papacy during the Second World War. His critics accuse him of not taking a stand against the Nazi persecution of the Jews.

But Sr. Marchione says this is nonsense.

"Actually an Italian historian, Enzo De Felice, stated that at least 5,000 Jews were saved through the efforts of Pope Pius XII," she said.

"And how did he do it? He asked all the convents and monasteries in Rome to open their doors to the Jews who were being persecuted by the Nazis and to give them the possibility of remaining there," said Sr. Marchione, a member of the Religious Teacher Filippini order." target="_blank"> -Read More...

Sr. Marchione is in Rome to address a conference on Pope Pius XII, which is being hosted by the Italian Senate. Pope Pius occupied the papacy during the Second World War. His critics accuse him of not taking a stand against the Nazi persecution of the Jews.

But Sr. Marchione says this is nonsense.

'Actually an Italian historian, Enzo De Felice, stated that at least 5,000 Jews were saved through the efforts of Pope Pius XII,' she said.

'And how did he do it? He asked all the convents and monasteries in Rome to open their doors to the Jews who were being persecuted by the Nazis and to give them the possibility of remaining there,' said Sr. Marchione, a member of the Religious Teacher Filippini order."