4 OCTOBER 2003, Page 38

Sainthood on schedule

From Dimitri Cavalli

Sir: In her otherwise interesting article, (Go straight to Heaven', 20 September) Anne Sebba reports that the Vatican's plans to canonise Pope Pius XII are on hold because of the recurring allegations that he didn't do enough to stop the Holocaust. This is incorrect. In fact, Pius XII maintained extensive contact with the German Resistance throughout the war and frequently instructed his deputies at the Vatican and diplomatic representatives throughout Europe to intervene on behalf of Jews and other civilians. Furthermore, the Revd Peter Gumpel, Si., the Vatican official who is acting as the postulator or independent judge for Pius XII's cause, has publicly stated several times that the late pope's beatification is moving forward as scheduled.

Dimitri Cavalli

New York