Act II, Scene 4

Time: The Present. The set, at stage left, is a desk in a T.V. studio in the United States. A T.V. Anchorwoman is seated behind the desk, reading the evening news into a camera. There is a large T.V. monitor on stage that the audience sees. As the scene opens, we see the anchorwoman, but do not hear her, miming the reading of the news. When the sound comes on, we hear:

ANCHORWOMAN

...Rounding out the news this evening, the Pope today made another statement of regret to the Jewish people. The Pontiff said, “We are deeply saddened by the behavior of those in history who have caused you to suffer, and, asking your forgiveness, we commit ourselves to genuine brotherhood with you.” The Pope’s statement drew mixed reactions. A continuing point of contention is the role of Pope Pius the Twelfth during the Holocaust, which was not mentioned in today’s Vatican statement. For a view from the Vatican on this, we go to Rome, and a statement by an influential member of the Curia, Cardinal Silvano Orsini. (We see a much-older Orsini on the T.V. monitor – on video tape. He is wearing the red of a cardinal.)

ORSINI

Pope Pius’ memory is beloved by millions of Catholics. His was a lone voice during the terrors of World War II that urged God’s Natural Law upon all parties. He saved the city of Rome from destruction, helped save most of the Jews of Italy, and aided countless refugees after the war. During the Cold War, his courage was invaluable in checking the evil ambitions of Josef Stalin. I’m confident when all the facts are known, Pope Pius XII will be beatified, and eventually recognized as the saint he indeed was. (The screen on the T.V. monitor goes to black.)

ANCHORWOMAN

For an opposing view, we go to the town of Utica, in upstate New York. Last year, the world was startled by the publication of a book by an ordinary parish priest there that many see as a remarkably detailed indictment of Pope Pius. Father Joseph Corso. (We see a much-older Corso on the T.V. monitor, via video tape. He is still dressed in the everyday clothing of an ordinary priest.)

CORSO

I welcome the Pope’s latest statement, and I’m heartened by it. But in his statement, he did not make reference at all to the silence of Pope Pius the Twelfth at the time of the Holocaust. But today humanity remains broken – broken by the fact that Nazism and the Holocaust actually occurred! If we’re to come to terms with the implications of the Holocaust, we have to honestly acknowledge what occurred. Only then can we hope that all people on the earth may advance to a better mutual responsibility to each other, and responsibility to God. For this to happen – if it can happen – the Catholic Church must come to terms with the fact that its leader during those terrible years, Pope Pius the Twelfth, failed in both his responsibilities to man and to God. Ever since Vatican II, a titanic struggle has been going on among Catholics. Pope John XXIII has been beatified – which satisfies Catholic progressives. I predict – and I predict it with great sorrow – when the World War II generation is gone, to satisfy Catholic restorationists, it will be Pius’ turn. But what’s at stake is the human soul, and this juggling is a cowardly way to avoid dealing with it. (The screen on the T.V. monitor goes to black.)

ANCHORWOMAN

And that’s the way it was this (fill in the date – day of week, day of month, and year of this play’s performance). See you again tomorrow evening. Good night.

(Light fades to black.)

END