Pius XII The Last "Good" Pope

Reign
March 2, 1939 - October 9, 1958

(The following is taken from Daily Catholic, a Novus Ordo publication.  Note that although this is a Vatican II publication, they question if Vatican II should have happened.)

Pope Pius XII published nearly 40 encyclicals and in many of his writings was ahead of his time, condemning any kind of artificial insemination or birth control, speaking out strongly against communism, stressing missionary work by establishing a hierarchy in China, Burma and numerous emerging African nations. Throughout his papacy he boldly promoted the Blessed Mother, her messages of Fatima and Lourdes and her role in all of these modern times often referred to as the "end times."

The most shining jewel in his papal tiara, for he was the last Supreme Pontiff to wear it, came on November 1, 1950 when he declared as a Doctrine of Faith the Dogma of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary into Heaven. He was also a stickler for details, a hands-on Pope who knew the pulse of the Church. This alienated many cardinals within the Roman Curia who were used to running things their way and set in motion the changes that would be wrought at Vatican II. They began the rumor mill that the Church was in trouble, but Pius ignored the nay-sayers. In retrospect, was this a mistake on his part? Was he aware how satan had convinced many of the Church's own prelates to undermine her? They worked insidiously and deftly, spreading the word that Holy Mother Church was weak and in need of a transfusion. Was she really? Some will say yes, but most Church scholars, historians and theologians feel in restrospect, that contrary to what some progressives may think, Vatican II was not necessary. On further review, many feel it was ill-advised.

Many also feel if Pius XII knew what lay ahead he would have instituted measures to assure it would not happen, possibly reaffirming Pope Saint Pius V's proclamation that the Latin Mass would be said, as established at the Council of Trent, "in perpetuity." We'll never know. But his encyclical Humani generis on August 12, 1950 warned of false opinions that threatened to undermine the foundations of Catholic doctrine. Also, many believe he did know of the troubles ahead for Holy Mother Church with his final encyclical on July 14, 1958 Meminisse juvat which asked for prayers for the persecuted Church. He took great pains to warn against changes in the rubrics with his encyclical Mediator Dei in 1947. He had even taken measures to guard against those who would attempt to subvert the Faith under the pretext of a return to primitive practices, such as Holy Communion in the hand which had been condemned by the Council of Rouen in 650. But, try as he might, the seeds for dissent and change for the worse had already been sown in the fifties.

To make matters worse the Holy Father fell very ill in March 1954 and from that time on had no choice but to pass on much of his power and hands-on expertise to a small band of Roman Curia, being forced to depend on others within this close-knit circle of cardinals who were not always scrupulous and this played right into the evil one's hands as they floundered around trying to keep the papal ship above water. Even though he recovered, the precedent had been set. One of those given power to was Monsignor Domenico Tardini who would go on to become Secretary of State under both John XXIII and Paul VI. Many attribute Tardini's behind the scenes dealings with allowing the liberal factions to take a firm hold, though no documentation can positively confirm this.

During the late summer of 1958, with Pius dying at the papal summer home of Castel Gandolfo, the Church was left in the hands of that small covey of cardinals whose actions or inactions, as the case may be, left the window cracked, if you will, allowing satan to slither through the narrow opening until, as Paul VI pronounced on his deathbed twenty years later, "satan is now in the sanctuary." In the early Thursday morning hours of October 9, 1958 the world went into mourning when it was announced that the eighty-two year old Pontiff had passed on to his Heavenly reward. The people of the world had been through a lot with this diminutive man who was a giant in the eyes and hearts of the poor, the destitute and many of the world's non-Catholics. In fact, he was loved by all except those within the Roman curia who vowed they would elect someone they could control, who would allow them free reign in their effort to overhaul the church to their way of thinking, rather than the right way - God's Way!

Pius XII and few others realized the great danger ahead - both in the the world and within Holy Mother Church herself. To strengthen the Church he began the fifth decade of this century by proclaiming the Assumption of Mary as infallible dogma. It would be the last great act of the Pius administration. With his passing would end an era that had begun at Trent for Pius XII was the last of the Tridentine Popes.