Beatification of Pope Pius XII provokes controversy

clipped from www.dici.org On 19 December Pope Benedict XVI authorized the Congregation for the Causes of the Saints to promulgate the decree acknowledging the “heroic virtues” of two of his predecessors, Pius XII (1939-1958) and John Paul II (1978-2005). The publication of the decree acknowledging the heroic virtues of Pius XII surprised more than one observer. Last June the postulator for the cause of the Pope of the Second World War confided to the press that the German Pope preferred not to sign the decree of beatification of his predecessor lest the relations between Jews and Catholics be “compromised. Today the question as to whether or not the project will be brought to completion has become the symbol of what Benedict XVI will do with his pontificate