“Because the Jews are also prone to exaggeration” Or: Explanations for why Angelo Dell’Acqua’s appunto of 2 October 1942 was omitted from the “Actes et Documents” [„Weil es auch unter den Juden leicht zu Übertreibung kommt“ Oder: Erklärungsansätze, warum das Appunto Angelo Dell’Acquas vom 2. Oktober 1942 nicht in die „Actes et Documents“ aufgenommen wurde ]

Wolf, Hubert; Haack, Jana; Hinkel, Sascha; Richter, Marie-Elisabeth; Schepers, Judith; Schüler, Barbara;

Abstract

When in 1942, Myron C. Taylor forwarded a letter from the Jewish Agency to the Roman Curia, which depicted the systematic murder of hundreds of thousands of Jews, and asked for further information, the Vatican reacted sceptically. Although further reports on the mass murdering of Jews had already reached the Vatican Angelo Dell’Acqua recommended not to confirm Taylor’s information. The study examines the “Actes et Documents” in relation to the documents made accessible on March 2, and shows why the edition should be both scrutinized closely and corrected in many ways. Moreover, the stances and actions of Angelo Dell’Acqua, who paved the way for this and other decisions, are analysed critically. This way, the significance of the curial staff to the pope’s decisions becomes obvious, calling for a shift of paradigm – away from focussing on the pope alone, but concentrating on the curial decision-making processes instead.