. . . or click on the link here for Audio Player – Mutual/Vatican Radio – Coronation of Pope Pius XII – March 12, 1939 – Gordon Skene Sound Collection.
Upon the Death of Pope Pius XI, the former Cardinal Secretary of State Eugenio Pacelli, ascended to the position of Pope on March 2nd 1939. The official coronation began on March 12.
As it was becoming ever clearer that war was imminent, Pius XII made many attempts at reconciliation and was vocally opposed to Nazism, but vowed neutrality during the war, despite attempts by Hitler to ban the Catholic Church from Germany and many criticisms later on with regards to the plight of Jews in Europe, particularly in Eastern Europe at the time.
Pope Pius XII served from March 2, 1939 until his death on October 9, 1958.
Here is the recording of the Coronation of Pope Pius XII as it was broadcast by Mutual via Vatican Radio‘s English transmission in Rome on March 12, 1939. The sound fades in and out, and is hard to understand at time – due to the nature of Shortwave radio at the time. But it’s a historic document during a crucial period of time in the world’s history.
