Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Rome (Fides Service) - To mark the 60th anniversary of the death of German born Fr Pancratius Pfeiffer (12 May 1945), the Society of the Divine Saviour of which he was a member has opened an exhibition in Rome in Via della Conciliazione at the general house of the Salvatorian Fathers, to make known all that this priest did during the Nazi occupation of Rome 1943-44. Fr Pfeiffer is also remembered called “the unarmed general” although he did used the arms of charity to save the lives of hundreds of people, including many Jews and not only in Rome. He was patient and tireless and taking advantage of his German nationality and the trust Pope Pius XII had in him, work intensely to mediate with the German authorities in the city to glean information and intervene to save lives. The exhibition which will run from 13 May to 18 June presents the figure of Fr. Pfeiffer, the charisma of the Salvatorian Fathers and documentation on the priest’s extraordinary work to save lives during World War II.
Pancratius Pfeiffer was born on 18 October 1872 in Brunnen, near Fuessen, in Baviera. In 1888 he decided to embrace the religious life and on 18 March 1889 he travelled to Rome to join the Society of the Divine Saviour. Ordained a priest in 1896, he was called to work in the Vatican in1908, during the pontificate of Pius X, in the office which organised papal audiences. In 1915 he was elected Superior general of Salvatorians, succeeding the Founder, a responsibility he held for 30 years until he died on 12 May 1945. While Rome was occupied by the German army many turned to him to have information about relations who had been arrested and to obtain their release. It is impossible to say exactly how many Jews were hidden, how many persecuted people were protected and how many lives of condemned persons were saved some only minutes before execution thanks to the tenacity of this Catholic priest from Germany. The city of Rome gave his name to a road near the Salvatorian House not far from St Peter’s. (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 12/5/2005 - righe 21; parole 315)
