New Perspectives on Pius XII and Vatican Financial Transactions During the Second World War

Newly declassified British archives reveal that the Vatican, under Pope Pius XII, maintained complex financial operations during World War II despite wartime restrictions. These records, spanning 1941–1943, detail the Vatican's income, expenditures, and global financial movements amid foreign exchange controls and 'Trading with the Enemy' regulations. The findings challenge long-standing debates about the Vatican's neutrality, offering unprecedented insights into its economic strategies and potential political leanings during the conflict.

McGOLDRICK, P. M. (2012). NEW PERSPECTIVES ON PIUS XII AND VATICAN FINANCIAL TRANSACTIONS DURING THE SECOND WORLD WAR. The Historical Journal, 55(4), 1029–1048. https://doi.org/10.1017/s0018246x12000416