THE VATICAN’S SECRET FILES EXPOSED The truth behind the Black Legend 1 x 90’ Documentary This documentary special takes us on an unprecedented journey into the heart of the darkest part of the history of the Holy See. New and never published documents identified and analyzed by our team of experts show that the plan of Pius XII and and his closest collaborators in fact saved over 700,000 Jews during World War II. We will discover how Pius XII put a plan in place to obstruct OVERVIEW Hitler by any means and cooperated fully with the German Anti-Nazi resistance. With insights and testimonies never heard before, we immerse ourselves in the heart of this unclear part of the history of the Holy See to learn the truth behind the “Black Legend” that has forever contaminated the papacy of Pius XII, considered by many to be the most hated pope in the history of the papacy. After the opening of the archives by Pope Francis in March 2020, the COVID pandemic caused the Vatican to abruptly close. The only people who have had access to the archives during this time is the Vatican’s internal research team, and our collaborators for this project. Our guests have gathered significant evidence that will completely rehabilitate the legacy of Pius XII. We will conduct in-depth interviews with historians and experts and in the Vatican Secret Archive. OUR GUESTS: Cardinal Dominique Mamberti Prefect of the Apostolic Signatura in the Roman Curia ACCESS Dr. Johann Icks Director the Archives of the Vatican Secretariat of State Dr. Andrea Tornielli Director of the Vatican Dicastery for Communication DR. Barbara Frale Guy Walters Historical researcher and paleographer Author, historian, and journalist at the Vatican Secret Archives OUR STORY As the Second World War heats up to ravage Europe, the Vatican elects a new pope, Eugenio Pacelli, baptized Pius XII. On that day, the new Pontiff appears on the balcony of the Papal Palace before the crowd gathered in St. Peter’s Square. Pale and hesitant, Pius XII gazes over the balustrade, blesses the faithful three times and then, without saying another word, disappears back inside. This first public appearance marks the beginning of the reign of one of the most notorious and mysterious Popes in history. Because throughout the war, Pius XII’s quiet and understated personality, his politically calculated relationship with Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini and above all, his inexplicable silence in the face of the massacre of millions of Jews, left him seen as an accomplice of the Nazi regime, and the most hated pope in history. This allegation, spread by the communists in the divided atmosphere of the post-war period, gave rise to the so-called “Black Legend” which persists to this day among historians, writers, and journalists. but after years of investigation... into the Vatican’s secret archives, renown Italian historian and author, Barbara Frale reveals a very different story from the one commonly thought to be true. Now, according to previously inaccessible documents from the time, the attitude and silence of Pope Pius XII in the face of Nazi atrocities, was in fact a ruse. Letters, reports, mission orders, and dozens of documents recount how, from the beginning of the war, Pius XII secretly launched one of the Church’s most daring plans both for the Vatican’s resistance, and to save thousands of Jews from deportation. The documents researched by Barbara Frale prove that the plan of Pius XII and his counsellors in fact saved over 700,000 Jews during the war. With never before heard insight and testimony, we plunge into the heart of the obscure part of the Holy See’s history to learn the truth behind the “Black Legend” that forever tainted the papacy of Pius XII, the most hated pope in history. PRODUCTION STYLE: THIS SPECIAL WILL BLEND INTERVIEWS FROM OUR EXPERTS, ARCHIVAL FOOTAGE FROM WWII, REAL FOOTAGE FROM THE VATICAN, RE-ENACTMENTS AND HIGH QUALITY 3D ANIMATIONS OF THE CONSTRUCTION SITE AT SAINT PETER’S BASILICA, WHERE THE POPE WAS CONDUCTING SECRET MEETINGS ARCHIVAL MATERIAL Through our research we have uncovered a substantial number of new and untold facts. The documents, letters, telegrams, and manuscripts we found are now part of the research heritage that we will feature in our film. THE VATICAN’S SECRET FILES EXPOSED (w/t) Conceived and developed by Barbara Frale and Max Serio ©2021 ALL Rights RESERVED.