Questionable Solicitude Pius XII and the Catholic Church in Croatia during the Second World War

Pope Pius XII and the Challenge of Totalitarianism in Yugoslavia,1941–1958 (2025) [pp. 33-74]

AUTHOR(S) / АУТОР(И): Vojislav G. Pavlović

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DOI: 10.46793/POLITY25.033P

ABSTRACT / САЖЕТАК:

The Catholic Church in Croatia strongly supported the authorities of the Independent State of Croatia (Nezavisna Država Hrvatska, NDH), which committed genocide against Serbs, Jews and Roma during the Second World War. The peculiarity of the NDH was that the genocide was perpetrated by the Ustasha, who claimed to be devout Catholics. The aim of this paper is to establish what information the Holy See had about the situation in the NDH and, on the basis of this information, what its attitude was towards the actions of the Catholic clergy in the ISC.

KEYWORDS / КЉУЧНЕ РЕЧИ:

ndependent State of Croatia, Catholic Church, Holy See, Pius XII, Serbs, Croats, genocide

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