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Glite Dictionary
Pius XII

Pius XII

7.9
Pope from 1939 to 1958 known for staying neutral in World War II and for criticism over not helping Jews
  • proper noun
  • /ˈpaɪəs ˈtwɛlθ/
translation icon : Pío XII
  • Many historians debate the actions of Pius XII regarding the Holocaust.

Examples

  • During World War II, Pius XII maintained a policy of neutrality in international affairs.

  • Did Pius XII do enough to protect the Jews during World War II?

  • The Vatican archives on Pius XII have been the subject of considerable scholarly research.

  • Pope Pius XII was known for his controversial decisions during the war.

  • Many historians debate the actions of Pius XII regarding the Holocaust.

  • Pope Pius XII was known for his controversial decisions during the war.

  • During World War II, Pius XII maintained a policy of neutrality in international affairs.

Synonyms

Pope Pius XII
vsPius XII
1 7.2

The Pope from 1939 to 1958 who stayed neutral during World War II and faced criticism for not protecting Jews

is the shorter version without the formal title before the name

Surface Forms

Pius XII main

Morphology

Pius + XII

This is a proper name formed from a regnal name and a Roman numeral; while 'XII' can be read as 'the twelfth', that alone does not tell a B1 learner that the referent is a pope or his historical role. 'Pius' functions as a name (not a compositional description), so the overall meaning (a specific historical pope and his biography) cannot be derived from the constituents.

Etymology

Pius XII: The name Pius XII comes from the pope choosing the name Pius, an old Latin word meaning 'very religious', and XII shows he was the 'twelfth' pope to take that name. He was pope from 1939 to 1958 and is remembered for staying neutral in World War II, which is why people still talk about and debate his actions today.