On September 4, 1917, Archbishop Pacelli made a passionate plea to the
Vatican Secretary of State to intercede on behalf of the Chief Rabbi of Munich,
Rabbi Werner.
He requested that the Pope intercede to help the Jews of Germany get the palms used to celebrate the festival
of Sukkoth. Since the Vatican had no diplomatic relations with Italy, the Vatican was unsuccessful in gaining
the release.
No. 1258 Apostolic Nunciature Baviera
Monaco, September 4, 1917
Re: Request for the Holy See’s intervention on behalf of the Jewish community.
To His Eminence Cardinal Pietro Gasparri Secretary of State to His Holiness
Your Eminence,
Th e Jewish Community of the German Empire, by means of the “Free Interest Community
of Orthodox Jewry” of Frankfort and Professor Dr. Werner, Rabbi of Munich, have appealed
to the Nunciature for the following purpose:
According to the words of the Bible, the above-mentioned communities for the celebration
of Sukkoth or feast of the tabernacles (which occurs on October 1st) have need of palms,
which usually arrive from Italy. Now, unexpectedly and against its own interest, the Italian
Government has suddenly forbidden the exportation of the palms that are ready in Como,
nor have we succeeded in obtaining them, even though they cannot serve for food nor for
any other profi t. Time is of the essence, since the exportation should take place in a few days
if we are to have the palms on time, especially since they will then have to be distributed
throughout Germany.
Th e Jewish Communities hope that this will happen through the intervention of His Holiness
with the Italian Government and beg the Apostolic Nunciature to intercede for this purpose,
adding that thousands of members, faithful to their religion, would be profoundly grateful
for a happy ending.
It seems to me that we are dealing, not with help to be given to the Jewish communities simply
for a civil purpose or for the protection of natural rights common to all men (in which there
would not have been any inconvenience), even though material and remote cooperation, but
positive and direct for the exercise of the Jewish religion. I have therefore answered respectfully
to the above mentioned rabbi that, even though it is not possible for me to telegraph for a
similar aff air (which, because it is so extraordinary, requires much explanation), I would have
however immediately sent an urgent report to the Holy See in this regard, but I foresaw that
because of the time element, it would not have arrived on time, and besides I did not know
what action the Holy Father would have been able to take in order to explain this to the
Italian Government.
In the meantime, I leave this to the superior judgment of Your Eminence, and kiss your ring
with profound veneration.
Your most humble and devoted servant
Eugenio Archbishop of Sardi
Apostolic Nuncio
On September 18, the Cardinal Secretary of State replied that he “fully agrees with the way in which you
acted in this delicate aff air, since the Holy See, obviously, cannot follow the request of Prof. Dr. Werner.
Please explain to this gentleman in your reply—the choice of the words is up to you—but stress the fact that
the Holy See does not entertain diplomatic relationship to the Italian Government.”
Pacelli reported on September 28: “Prof. Werner fully understands the reasons which I explained him and
thanked me warmly for what we did on his proposal.”
Source: Pope Pius XII and World War II: The Documented Truth