Vatican officials said today that the beatificaton of Pope Pius XII, the controversial pope of World War II, is not imminent. There is debate still about whether Pius should have taken a stronger stand against Hitler’s known atrocities, but there is also ample evidence that he did what he could to shelter thousands of Roman Jews during the war.

This much about the Italian pope is not controversial. On September 11, 1941, he met briefly and privately with a future saint, Padre Gaetano Catanoso. I detail this meeting in Chapter 4 of my book — a regal and humbling moment. The old priest had a big favor to ask because he had a huge problem to solve. But he couldn’t do it, simply saying: “I ask only your blessing, Holy Father, for me, my nuns, the children of my institutes, and those who are dear to me.”

More on Pope Pius XII here.