Myth of Hitler's Pope?

[Perun]

Has anybody read David G. Dalin's recent book The Myth of Hitler's Pope. I glanced over it the other day at a bookstore and I can tell somebody is stretching the truth here. I didnt get to the parts dealing with Pius XII per se, but mainly the chapter detailing Jewish-Catholic relations prior to World War 2.

Although its commonly known that Jewish-Catholic relations during this time were bad, yet Dalin makes an attempt to portray another picture. Rather than persecuting Jews, the Catholic Church defended them and gave them full equality in society alongside Christians in Europe(??????????).

Oddest part is when Dalin tries to paint Popes Leo XIII and Pius X(yes Pius X) as great lovers of Jews, even claiming that Leo remarked that the only true Christians in Rome were actually Jews(this is a rather odd remark for a Pope to make wouldnt you think?).

I was particularly suspect when Dalin goes on explaining Pius X's support for Zionism and an incident where he enthusastically asked Zionist leaders if the re-establishment of a Jewish homeland in Palestine would involve rebuilding the Temple in Jerusalem. Why would a Pope(and not just any Pope, but one of the most staunch traditionalist popes) be enthusastic about this, since it's a clear disregard for Christian doctrine?

I don't know, just from these examples I smell a terrible rat in this book.

[Carnyx]

For the anecdote : An olive tree was planted on the Mount of the Olives in memory of Pius XII.