Vatican City (AsiaNews) - Pius XII is, after the Scriptures, "the most frequently cited authoritative source" for the documents of Vatican Council II. This indicates the vastness and impact of the magisterium, often still relevant today, of a pope who instead saw attention focused "in an excessive way on a single problem, generally treated in a rather unilateral manner." Benedict XVI spoke again today of Pope Pacelli, and, in his address to participants in the congress on "The legacy of the magisterium of Pius XII and Vatican Council II," organized by the pontifical Gregorian and Lateran universities, made only a passing reference to the controversies, and did not mention the question of the beatification process underway.

The pope recalled the "imposing" magisterial work of Pius XII, of "vast and beneficial extent." In this regard, it is enough to remember the encyclicals and the many speeches and radio messages contained in the twenty volumes of his "Teachings." He published more than forty encyclicals. Exemplary among these are "Mystici Corporis," in which the pope addresses the topic of the true and intimate nature of the Church, and "Sacra Virginitas" and other documents on religious life, in which "Pius XII clearly brought to light the excellence of the 'gift' that God grants to certain persons, inviting them to consecrate themselves entirely to his service and to that of their neighbor, in the Church." "There have been many occasions on which Pius XII addressed the responsibility of lay people in the Church," "he gladly addressed the issues of the individual professions, indicating, for example, the duty of judges, of lawyers, of social workers, of doctors." In the encyclical "Miranda Prorsus," "he dwelt upon the great importance of the modern means of communication, which are having an increasing influence on public opinion."

"Pius XII also turned his attention to the sciences and to the extraordinary progress they have made. While admiring the achievements in these areas, the pope did not fail to warn against the risks of research that is not attentive to moral values. It is enough to give just one example: his famous speech about the splitting of the atom; with extraordinary foresight, the pope warned about the necessity of preventing at all costs that these tremendous scientific advancements should be used for the construction of devastating weapons, which would be capable of provoking immense catastrophes and even the total destruction of humanity."

"How can we not also recall the long, inspired addresses he gave on the reordering of civil society, national and international, in which he pointed out justice as the indispensable foundation, the true presupposition for peaceful coexistence among peoples."

"Everyone recognizes that Pius XII was unusually intelligent, with a tenacious memory, an extraordinary talent for foreign languages, and remarkable sensitivity. It has been said of him that he was an accomplished diplomat, an eminent jurist, an excellent theologian. All of this is true, but it doesn't explain everything. There was also in him a continual effort and firm will to give himself to God without reservation and without concern for his precarious health. This was the true motive of his behavior: everything was born from his love for his Lord Jesus Christ and his love for the Church and humanity."

"It should therefore not be surprising that his teaching continues to shed light on the Church even today." "For this reason, the legacy of the magisterium of Pius XII was taken up by Vatican Council II and re-proposed for the following Christian generations. It is well known the oral and written statements presented by the fathers of Vatican Council II contain more than a thousand references to the magisterium of Pius XII," so much so that "with the exception of sacred Scripture, this pope is the most frequently cited authoritative source."