It has all the hallmarks of a best-selling fictional
thriller: espionage, conspiracy, a struggle against evil
powers, undercover work by dark of night... but it's all
true.
The Scarlet and the Black tells the
astonishing and heroic true story of Monsignor Hugh
O'Flaherty, the man dubbed "The Scarlet Pimpernel of
the Vatican" during World War II.
Born in Killarney,
Ireland, Hugh O’Flaherty was an avid
athlete— becoming a formidable boxer, handball player,
hurler, and golfer. From an early age, however, he knew his
calling was to the priesthood. After his ordination, he
served first as an Apostolic Delegate in Egypt, Haiti,
Santo Domingo, and Czechoslovakia, then in Rome at the Holy
Office (now the Congregation for the Doctrine of the
Faith). It was here in Rome that his greatest work began.
After the surrender of Italy in 1943, Rome came under the
command of Nazi Colonel Herbert Kappler of the dreaded SS,
who began the deportation of Italian Jews to Auschwitz.
Kappler was a notorious hater of the Jews, persecuting them
at every turn. As a top man in the Vatican Holy Office,
Msgr. O’Flaherty sprang into action, organizing a
sophisticated team that included men and women of many
nationalities, religions, and political views. There was
one goal— to save Jews and POWs from the Nazi machine.
Despite Kappler’s numerous attempts to assassinate
him, O’Flaherty persisted, and his efforts saved
thousands of Jews and POWs.
Using private homes and
apartments, churches and monasteries, the effort was all
orchestrated by Msgr. O’Flaherty. Each day his
familiar figure would stand on the steps of St.
Peter’s - neutral ground that even the Nazis
wouldn’t violate - to welcome any fugitives who
might be sent his way. All told, of 9,700 Roman Jews, most
were saved, with 1,007 shipped to Auschwitz. The rest were
hidden, 5,000 of them by the official Church - 3,000 at the
Pope’s Castel Gandolfo, 200 or 400 (estimates vary)
as "members" of the Palatine Guard, and some 1,500
in monasteries, convents and colleges. The remaining 3,700
were hidden in private homes, including Msgr. O'Flaherty's
network of apartments. After the war, O’Flaherty was
honored by various Allied countries with awards and
decorations for his heroic acts to save Jews and POWs.
Illustrated
This classic account by
J.P. Gallagher was adapted into the acclaimed television
movie, The Scarlet and the Black, starring
Gregory Peck as Msgr. O’Flaherty
and Christopher Plummer as Colonel
Kappler.
This book can not be sold in the
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