Gerald J. Steinacher — The Pope Against Nuremberg: How the Vatican Helped Nazis Escape Postwar Justice - with Richard Breitman

Gerald J. Steinacher discusses *The Pope Against Nuremberg: How the Vatican Helped Nazis Escape Postwar Justice* with Richard Breitman. Drawing on newly opened Vatican archives and government and intelligence records from Europe and the Americas, Steinacher examines how Vatican officials challenged the postwar pursuit of justice, assisted Nazi war criminals, and helped establish escape routes that allowed perpetrators to evade prosecution.

The discussion places these actions within the politics of early Cold War Europe, when opposition to communism increasingly took precedence over accountability for mass crimes. Steinacher describes church officials’ efforts to influence Allied leaders, provide statements for the defense, oppose extraditions, conduct public relations campaigns, and in some cases shelter wanted war criminals on church property. He also considers Pope Pius XII’s call for the world to “forgive Germany” and explores the motivations behind the networks that helped Nazis escape justice.

When: Saturday, November 7, 2026

Showtimes: The event begins at 5:00 p.m.

Venue: Politics and Prose at 5015 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

Tickets: Free admission, with first-come, first-served seating.

Participants: Gerald J. Steinacher, the James A. Rawley Professor of History at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, will be in conversation with Richard Breitman, distinguished professor emeritus at American University.

Gerald J. Steinacher: Steinacher is the author of eighteen books, including *Nazis on the Run*, which received the National Jewish Book Award in the Holocaust category.

Richard Breitman: Breitman’s most recent book is *A Calculated Restraint: What Allied Leaders Said About the Holocaust*.

Accessibility: Accommodation and accessibility requests may be sent to events@politics-prose.com, ideally at least one week before the event. The venue will make efforts to accommodate requests made up to the event time.

Related book: *The Pope Against Nuremberg: How the Vatican Helped Nazis Escape Postwar Justice* by Gerald J. Steinacher is available for preorder in hardcover for $35.00. Its publication date is November 3, 2026, and its ISBN is 9781479845248.