The Vatican and the Holocaust Invitational Symposium

Monday, October 19 - Wednesday, October 21, 2020
Virtual Event

Co-conveners

Dr. Suzanne Brown-Fleming, Director, In- ternational Academic Programs, USHMM Dr. Rebecca Carter-Chand, Acting Director, Programs on Ethics, Religion and the Holo- caust, USHMM Dr. Robert Ventresca, Professor of History, King’s University College

In March 2020, Pope Francis officially opened the Archives of the Holy See for the Pontificate of Pius XII (1939-1958). For scholars of the Hol- ocaust and Jewish-Catholic relations, many ques- tions remain open about the role of Pope Pius XII, the Vatican, and the Church hierarchy dur- ing and after the Holocaust. This is a long- anticipated opportunity for researchers to do rig- orous scholarship over the next several years and to avoid the “Pius wars” of years past. Unsettled Questions and New Directions: The Vatican and the Holocaust is an invitational symposium hosted by Programs on Ethics, Reli- gion, and the Holocaust. Leading scholars of Catholic Church history, Holocaust history, the- ology, Vatican diplomacy, and Jewish-Catholic relations will reflect upon the status of the field and the possibilities offered through the opening of the Vatican Archives to future research and scholarship.

This symposium is made possible by the Hoffberger Family Fund and by Joseph A. and Janeal Cannon.