What was Zollis attitude toward Pius XII?
CABAUD: Zolli was a witness to the generosity of Pius XII. He knew that the Pope had ordered the monasteries and convents of Rome to open their doors to Jews. He knew that there were thousands of Jews being protected by Catholic families, also in the Vatican itself as well as in the Pope’s residence in Castel Gandolfo. He was very struck by the openness of the Pope. Zolli lived during the whole war in Rome, not in the U.S. or in Switzerland, and he was an eyewitness to the action of the Church. Now we know, in fact, that during the war, Pius XII saved more Jews than any other person at that time. What happened to Rabbi Zolli after the liberation of Rome? CABAUD: In June 1944, the Americans arrived in Rome. Colonel Poletti. an Italo-American commander of the American army, asked to dissolve the Jewish community council by saying: “Get all these collaborators out and give me Zolli back.” But Zolli was now 65 years old, quite tired and on the point of retiring. In fact, Father Dezza, the
