On the Question of the Holy See's Knowledge of the Religious Situation on the Territory of the Independent State of Croatia

Abstract

The article's subject is one of the most controversial issues in the historiography concerning the activities of the Holy See during the Second World War. The author focuses attention on the issue of the Catholic Church's activity on the territory of the Independent State of Croatia during the early years of its existence, as well as on the question of the Roman pontiff Pius XII's knowledge of the religious situation on the territory of this new state. The aim of this study is to present a picture of the complex religious relationships on the territory of the Independent State of Croatia in 1941-1942, as well as to study the degree of the Holy See's awareness of the situation. The author applies the historical and comparative methods, also the historicism method is used to consider the conditions surrounding the events under study, and the critical analysis method is used for its potential to give an objective assessment of the problem under consideration. As a result of the conducted study, the author concludes that the Holy See did not officially recognize or support the Croatian government. At the same time, it was aware of the urgent religious issues that had come up in the new state, but did not actively intervene in resolving the conflict.