Some historians note that in the pre-war years, as the Nazi regime was establishing relationships with religious institutions, its relations with the Vatican were expressed through juridical-diplomatic mechanisms, such as the signed concordat.

Diplomacy and Dilemma: The Vatican’s Ambiguous Role with Nazi Germany

Some historians note that in the pre-war years, as the Nazi regime was establishing relationships with religious institutions, its relations with the Vatican were expressed through juridical-diplomatic mechanisms, such as the signed concordat. Although no public blessing of Hitler by the highest ecclesiastical institutions was widely recorded in the religious discourse before the outbreak of World War II, the concordat made with the Nazis was perceived not only as a formal agreement but also as a means to legitimize the regime’s actions. In an essay by Graham Greene, quoted in the source ( link txt, page: 6263), it is stated:

"The concordat, signed by the Nazis with the Vatican, however, systematically violated by them, was in their eyes a postponement of the decisive strike."

This phrase indicates that for the Nazi elite, such an agreement served as a temporary restraining mechanism against criticism or resistance from religious circles. On the other hand, in several statements (for instance, as mentioned in source link txt) it was later noted that "during the war, the Pope also blessed Hitler," which underscores the ambiguity of the positions held by church leaders under shifting political circumstances.

Thus, even if an official theological blessing in the full sense was rare or only manifested in the form of diplomatically formalized agreements, the fact (the concordat) forces a reevaluation of the historical role of the Catholic Church. It suggests that the institutionalized relationship with the Nazi regime required the church either to compromise or, at the very least, to demonstrate a willingness to cooperate with the authorities under political pressure. In turn, these complex, ambiguous relations (formalized by a treaty that was later disregarded) continue to influence historical assessments of the church’s role during that period, indicating that it attempted to survive under totalitarianism, yet remained subject to criticism either for its passivity or, conversely, for its excessive politicization.

Supporting citation(s):
"The concordat, signed by the Nazis with the Vatican, however, systematically violated by them, was in their eyes a postponement of the decisive strike. According to the testimony cited in Graham Greene's essay 'The Paradox of a Pope,' at the enthronement of Pius XII (1939) the ambassador of Nazi Germany openly remarked: 'An impressive and beautiful ceremony – but this is the last time.'" (source: link txt, page: 6263)

"During the war, the Pope also blessed Hitler! I understand, but that is not our concern; ..." (source: link txt)