Pope Pius XII led the Church through the turbulent years of World War II, and his papacy was marked by controversy over his response to the Holocaust. He focused on preserving the Church’s independence and defending Catholic interests in a changing world. Birth name: Eugenio Maria Giuseppe Giovanni Pacelli Nationality: Italy, Kingdom of Italy Born: March 2, 1876 Died: October 9, 1958 Pontificate: March 2, 1939 – October 9, 1958