From the archives of the Roman monasteries new evidences flow on the help of the Holy See in favor of the persecuted and of those who suffered from Nazi oppression in occupied Rome.

The following text comes from the diary of the monastery of the Poor Sisters of St. Joseph, whose house was located in Via dei Fienili, Rome. During the war these sisters hosted six Jews (as shown by F. Barozzi, I percorsi della sopravvivenza (8 settembre 1943-4 giugno 1944): salvatori e salvati durante l’occupazione nazista di Roma, in «Rassegna mensile d’Israel», (1998),1, pp. 95-144).

The diary gives the direct sense of the terror of those tragic moments.
The date of the events recounted surely ranks among September 8th and the end of October 1943.

Here is the full text of the diary.

«Roar of cannons that rages continuously on the city walls keep us fearfully agitated for several days and nights.
German soldiers who are still fiercely fighting the war and the Italian soldiers, who would prevent their entry into Rome.
The Germans won and subjugated by Rome is that wherever their fury casts terror and fright.
And here is vandalism, exports to Germany of all Italian goods, the defrauding of the houses, the hostage of the fathers and children of the family, the persecution of the Jews, etc..
What terror! Oh! Our dear homeland, as you have reduced!
We trust in God, in sorrow that oppresses, but also the lack of food brings hunger.
There is a gentle voice that is heard from the Vatican. And the 'Voice of the Great Pope of Charity, which inspires confidence and says: Be not afraid, and God will be with you to protect you, comfort you, to help you in your needs.
The program is extensive, arduous, but the charity that burns in the heart of the Supreme Pontiff arrives at all».

Another eviodence, along with the other emerging in this period, of the existence of a network of aid that, for its complexity and organizational nature, could not but be attributed to the Holy See and Pope Pius XII.
Despite the perennial controversy over the figure of this Pope.