Eugenio Pacelli was born March 2, 1876 in Rome, Italy. His parents, Filippo and Virginia Graziosi, were highly devout in the Catholic faith. On his father’s side, Pacelli’s family had a history of canon lawyers, working for the papacy and the Vatican.  Eugenio "was raised in an ambiance of intense Catholic piety, penurious respectability, and an enduring sense of injured papal merit." In other words, his family saw the papacy as the final word, the highest law. However, in the past centuries the papacy had steadily lost much of its power and influence. The modern world was threatening the papacy and the only way it could survive was through the application of law.

Thus, in the tradition of his family history, Eugenio Pacelli became a Vatican lawyer. However, Eugenio did not just exist in his position, he created and shaped "a new ideology of unprecedented papal power." His strong beliefs in the power of the church led him to the status of papal nuncio in Munich and Berlin in the 1920’s, where through various forms of coercion, sought to impose Rome’s power over Germany. Through the 1930’s, Pacelli dealt directly with Germany, immersing himself in his goal for Vatican power.

In 1933, Pacelli negotiated the Reich Concordat with Adolf Hitler. This provided that Church law be imposed on German Catholics, based on the Code of Canon Law. In exchange, the Church agreed to stay out of political and social affairs in Germany. This in turn, as time would tell, led to the ability of the Nazi party to initiate its programs of Jewish annihilation.  Hitler himself stated that Pacelli’s actions allowed Germany to solve the "Jewish question." After the Reich Concordat, the Church would not participate and would scarcely even comment on German political and social action. And after becoming Pope Pius XII in 1939, Pacelli did not take a stand against Hitler and the Nazi regime. During the war period, Pius XII was extremely tentative in dealing with both the Allied and Axis powers. Though he condemned the actions of the Nazis against the Jews, he did so with cautious tone and timing.

Thus, the perceived support of the Church toward Germany contributed to the ability of the Nazi party to rise and implement their plans. Pope Pius XII was a man of deep religious beliefs and dedication. However, he was also driven by both papal and selfish goals. And the actions based on these goals effected the entire shape of the world. Who knows, if Pius XII had handled things differently, World War II may not have occurred, or at least, the Nazis would have had a tougher time beginning their drive for power. In any case, Pope Pius XII demonstrates the great effect that religious individuals and leaders can have on society and politics.