Call for Participants

Researcher’s Workshop:

The Pius XII Collection in the Vatican Archives

27-28 March 2025

The recent opening of the Pius XII collections (pertaining to the period 1939-1958) in the Vatican Archives marks a significant milestone for scholars interested in 20th-century history. These archives provide unprecedented access to documents from one of the most critical and debated pontificates of modern times, shedding light on the Church's role during World War II, the postwar period, and the onset of the Cold War, as well as the experiences of ordinary people navigating the turbulent socio-political landscape of the era.

We are pleased to invite scholars to participate in an international workshop designed to support research into the Pius XII Collection in the Vatican Archives. This workshop, taking place entirely online, will consist of expert-led sessions providing insights, research strategies, and guidance for scholars at all levels. Leading historians and archivists will share their knowledge and experience on how to research and write the history of this era drawing on the newly released sources from the Vatican Archives.

Workshop Highlights:

• Overview of the Pius XII collections in the Vatican Apostolic Archive, Historical Archive of the Section for Relations with States, and other repositories

• Tools and strategies for conducting research within the archives

• Expert-led discussions on analyzing and interpreting archival sources

• Focused sessions on major themes such as World War II, the Holocaust, postwar reconstruction, decolonization and the Global South, the early Cold War

Who Should Apply? This workshop is open to established scholars, early career researchers, and graduate students (PhD and MA level). It welcomes both those currently conducting research in the Vatican collections and those planning future research projects.

Workshop Format:

• The event will be held online to ensure accessibility to an international audience

• Scheduled sessions: 27 and 28 March 2025 in the afternoon (app. from 2:00 pm to 7:00 pm CET each day)

• Participation is free of charge

• Sessions will be conducted in English and Italian, with language options tailored to participants' needs

• Participants won't be required to prepare presentations, but they will be encouraged to actively participate in the sessions by asking questions, analyzing sources, sharing their research experiences, etc.

How to Apply: please fill out this form (https://forms.gle/K3yxGSmnycDn5PW99) providing the following information by 25 February 2025 at the latest (early applications are encouraged):

• Name, affiliation, and a short bio

• Short overview of your current research project or research plans

• Expectations and specific topics you wish to see addressed in the workshop

Alternatively, you can send your application to katarzyna.nowak@univie.ac.at

Late applications will be considered if space permits.

Join us for an opportunity to deepen your understanding of archival research and connect with experts in the field!

The workshop is organized by Dr Katarzyna Nowak, University of Vienna as a part of the project COMREF-VATICAN (funded by the European Research Executive Agency, 101106155).