Many of Pope Pius XII 's critics have alleged " silence " by the pontiff during The Holocaust . Some of Pius XII 's defenders have contested whether he was silent , while others have instead argued that to speak out would have been useless or counterproductive . According to Prof. Michael Phayer , " the question of the pope 's silence has become the focus of intense historical debate and analysis "
The Holocaust
The Holocaust
Public statements of Pope Pius XII on the Holocaust