Pius XII — the Christmas allocution

After the encyclical Summi Pontificatus of 20 October 1939, Pius XII prepares his next major public address: the Christmas 1939 allocution to the Sacred College of Cardinals and the diplomatic corps accredited to the Holy See. Broadcast by Vatican Radio (founded in 1931 by Marconi) and relayed by media around the world. Expected audience: 200 million Catholics.

Three months have passed since the invasion of Poland. The Pope must decide whether to mention explicitly the crimes committed in Poland, of which the Holy See is informed through the nunciatures and the exiled Polish bishops — executions of elites by the Einsatzgruppen, the first ghettos, mass expulsions, executions of priests and religious; whether to address the fate of the Jews, whose persecution is intensifying (first ghetto at Piotrkow, marking by star in the Wartheland since November); or to articulate a universal "doctrine of peace," without naming the guilty, to preserve the Vatican's diplomatic capacity.

The Curia is divided. Cardinal Maglione (Secretary of State) argues for explicit denunciation, supported by the exiled Polish bishops (Hlond from Rome, memorandum of 6 November 1939). Tardini (under-secretary), Montini (the future Paul VI, at the Secretariat of State), and Mgr Domenico Tardini argue for caution, citing the dangers for Catholics under occupation in case of German reprisals.

The Pope spends seven weeks personally drafting the text, producing four versions. He meets 17 people individually before the broadcast.