ADSS 10.270 Luigi Maglione to Amleto Cicognani - Hungarian Jews

10.270 Cardinal Maglione to Amleto Cicognani, Ap Del USA

Reference: Telegram 1743 (AES 4581/44)

Location and date: Vatican, 18.07.1944

Summary statement: News of the results of steps taken for the Hungarian Jews.

Language: Italian

Text:

Following my telegram number 1707 (1) I share with your Excellency, that according to the communication of 15.07.1944, the Apostolic Nunciature in Budapest (2), I determine that the august appeal of the Holy Father has caused regent Horthy to take a more firm attitude on the issues of race and prompted others among the Episcopate to engage in more intense activity for the victims of racial measures with the result that the Government promised his Eminence Seredi that they would cease deportations and make exemptions for baptised Jews.

The Nunciature adds that the situation has improved. (3)

Notes:

(1) See ADSS 10.254

(2) Telegram number 224, 14.07.1944, received Rome 15.07.194.  Published in ADSS 10.265.

(3) The American Jewish Committee wrote to Cicognani on 01.08.1944 with a letter of thanks, saying in part: “ … the intervention of His Holiness the Pope, of the Apostolic Nunciature and of Catholic prelates throughout the world has doubtless been in great measure responsible.  This benign activity, repeating in these days of modern barbarism the noble tradition of humanitarianism so often followed by the church in the Middle Ages, has inspired in the Jewish people a profound and lasting sense of gratitude”. (Archives of the Apostolic Delegate, Washington).