A Catholic priest and former fascist chaplain has claimed that Pope Pius XII was instrumental in the setting up of a wartime escape network for Jews.
Fr Giancarlo Centioni, now 97, served in Rome as a chaplain to Mussolini's blackshirts, and last week claimed he is the last surviving member of a secret network established by the late Pope to assist Jews fleeing Nazi persecution.
In his interview with the online h20news, Fr Centioni stated that the network operated under the cover of a Catholic emigrant service, Sankt Raphael's Verein (St Raphael's Association).
''I was living in the Pallotines' headquarters, where my German colleagues invited me to take part,'' Fr Centioni. ''Since I was a fascist chaplain, it was easier to help the Jews''.
The priest added that head of the network was a German priest, Fr Anton Weber, then stationed in Rome, who was, Fr Centioni said, in ''direct contact'' with Pius XII.
According to Fr Centioni, St Raphael's was active in Rome before the German army took control of the city, in 1943, and then continued its work after the war ended. The priest himself was forced to flee the city when, he claimed, one applicant for help turned out to be ''a Russian spy''.
Fr Centioni's interview came as Pope Benedict's official visit to Rome's main synagogue last weekend was met in some quarters by renewed criticism of Pope Pius's wartime record. One leader of the city's Jewish community, Ricardo Pacifici, said Pius should have spoken out more forcefully on Jewish suffering, though Pope Benedict used the occasion of his visit to again publicly defend his predecessor.
Italy
Shroud to draw thousands
The Italian diocese that is home to the Shroud of Turin is preparing for an influx of visitors in excess of 600,000 for the exposition of the famed cloth.
Last week it was reported that the Diocese of Turin has received that many ticket requests for the 44-day viewing period, a figure set to be topped by unannounced visitors once the relic, said to be the original burial cloth of Christ, goes on display, from April 10 to May 23. The event will be the first exposition since the Jubilee Year of 2000. Pope Benedict XVI is set to undertake his own visit to view the Shroud on May 2.
United States
Famine church restoration
Work is underway to restore a famous 'Famine church' in New York. Originally built by Irish emigrants from Ireland's Great Hunger of the 1840s, a new generation of Irish labourers is involved in the work on St Brigid's, made possible by an anonymous donation of $20 million to the New York diocese in 2008. That donation was made up of $10 million to restore the building itself; $2 million to establish an endowment for the parish and $8 million to support St Brigid's School and other Catholic schools in need.
Britain
CofE palaces up for sale
The Church of England has revealed it is considering the sale of one in five bishops' palaces over the next year. Arising from a mixture of costs and a desire to improve the message communicated by palatial residences, the Church has decided to undertake a review of its 44 residences as respective 'rent-free' bishops reaches the age of 62. The Church of England calculates it spent stg£7.3 million in maintaining bishops' residences in 2008.
'Witchhunt' launched
A scheme to dissuade pagan practices has been launched in three counties after evidence of such rituals was detected. Residents in Devon, Dorset and Somerset have commenced a watch scheme after horses' manes were found braided in accordance with rituals to cast spells on the animals. Twenty animals have been found with their tails braided in the last three months. The watch scheme was launched when investigating police concluded that, rather than being marked for theft by a gang, the horses had been targeted by white witches as they cast spells.
Portugal
Vandals attack Fatima shrine
An act of vandalism at the famed Marian shrine has been condemned.
In the attack, statues at the shrine were defaced with apparently Muslim slogans, including the words ''Islam'' and ''mosque''. A statue of John Paul II was one of those defaced.
In a statement, officials of the Church of the Most Holy Trinity said they lamented the attack. Investigating police insisted the incident was ''absolutely isolated and not organised or related to any organisation''.
Russia
Missionary revival
The Russian Orthodox Church has announced it is to boost its missionary activities within and outside the country. It is reported that Moscow Patriarch Kirill is to take personal control of the initiative and has ordered an expansion of the Missionary Department of the Central Office of the Moscow Patriarchate, the office he previously led.
In addition to the establishment of a new college run by theologians and missionaries, the missionary department is to send missionaries to the Far East and Siberia by this summer.
Kirill's new focus has already led to the establishment of an Orthodox seminary at Epinay-sous-Senart in France. Based in a former Catholic convent, the seminary has 12 students and is seeking more.
Nepal
Extremist seeks forgiveness
A former Hindu extremist has changed his outlook thanks to reading the Bible, and has publicly asked for forgiveness for his part in attacks on Christians.
A former leader with the Nepal Army Defence, Ram Prasad Mainalo played his part in a May 2009 attack on a Christian church in which three worshippers died. Now in prison for that attack, Mainalo issued a statement in which he admitted to having studied the Bible towards his new perception of those he previously viewed as enemies of Nepal.
''The decision to attack religious people was a mistake,'' he said. ''I ask the forgiveness of all religious communities. I wish that they take pity on me and I ask them to always pray for me.''
Malaysia
Muslims target churches
Leaders of the country's Muslim community have condemned recent attacks on Christian churches.
Earlier this month, the churches were targeted by Muslims angered by a Christian newspaper's use of the word 'Allah' in its pages, and claims that such use was diverting Muslims from their faith.
However, Muslims leaders have joined in decrying the reaction.
''The attacks against churches and buildings of worship of any religion are against the teachings of Islam,'' they said, urging Christians and Muslims to enter dialogue.
Nigeria
Inter-religious violence
Fresh violence has broken out between members of the Christian and Muslim communities in Jos, the scene of violent clashes in 2008. Reports of 15 dead have emerged after violence was sparked, apparently by Christian refusal to allow a Muslim man rebuild his house, destroyed in 2008, in their area. Christians attending their church were targeted by Muslim youths in response.
Authorities have moved quickly in an attempt to prevent a repeat of the 2008 clashes. A previous curfew of midnight to 6am has been altered to 6pm to 6am.
