In March 1939, on the eve of the start of World War II, cardinals gathered in the Sistine Chapel to elect a new pope—Pius XII, a figure still controversial to this day. He has been criticized for alleged cooperation with Hitler and Mussolini and for inaction during the Holocaust. At the same time, defenders argue that his cautious actions saved many lives and believe he deserves canonization. The audiobook, by historian and anthropologist David Kertzer, a Pulitzer Prize winner, seeks to provide an objective assessment of Pius XII’s role in the war. Using previously unpublished Vatican archival materials that have recently become available, the author reconstructs a well-grounded description of the Vatican’s relations with Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy. This work offers valuable lessons for modern society, based on an in-depth analysis of historical sources.