By Pope Pius XII | Edited by Michael Chinigo

Opus Justitiae Pax—the papal motto of Pope Pius XII: “The work of justice shall be peace.” It proved fitting for a papacy that would span some of the most violent and des­tructive years of human history. This anthology of those teachings, compiled by Michael Chinigo from Pius XII’s encyclicals, apostolic letters, and various addresses, roundly attests to the effort his magisterium put forth to accomplish that work. Testimony to the Truth speaks to such subjects as marriage, family, and the domestic church; the role of women in modern society; education of children; science, technology, and the pro­liferation of war (especially in light of atomic and nuclear weaponry); the nature of the Church and the papacy, divine revelation, and the sacraments; democracy, communism, totalitarianism, and the common good; and many more.

First published in 1957 as The Pope Speaks, this anthology of Pope Pius XII’s teachings takes its new title from the Pope’s declaration in his first Encyclical, Summi Pontificatus: “As Vicar of Him Who in a decisive hour pronounced before the highest earthly authority of that day, the great words: ‘For this was I born, and for this came I into the world; that I should give testimony to the truth. Every one that is of the truth, hearest My voice’ (John 18:37)—We feel We owe no greater debt to Our office and to Our time than to testify to the truth with Apostolic firmness: to give testimony to the truth.”

You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. (John 8:32)

Pope Pius XII (1876–1958) served as Supreme Pontiff of the Universal Church from 1939 until his death in 1958. Formerly Cardinal Secretary of State and Camerlengo, he succeeded Pius XI and led the Church through the tormented years of World War II and the post-war struggles against totalitarianism. His magisterial legacy comprises more than a thousand speeches and addresses (most of which he wrote himself) and forty-one encyclicals, including Divino afflante Spiritu (on Sacred Scripture), Mediator Dei (on the Sacred Liturgy), and Humani generis (on human origin and evolution). In 2009, Pope Benedict XVI declared him Venerable. 

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Paperback: 368pp.

ISBN: 978-1685953348