« Possumus non loqui » : le Pape Pie XII, l’épiscopat français et l’indépendance algérienne

Abstract

Embedded within the intricate framework of events that propelled French Africa towards independence, the relationships between France, the Holy See, and both metropolitan and colonial episcopates played a pivotal role. This article delves into the interwoven threads of these interactions, unveiling the latent tensions that traversed the French Catholic Church during the Algerian War.The opening of Pope Pius XII's archives in 2020 sheds light on long-concealed frictions masked by official silence, particularly those between the Archdioceses of Algiers and Lyon in the face of the Algerian conflict's political and social stakes. These tensions highlight the ambivalent stance of the Catholic Church, including the Nunciature of Paris and the Vatican Secretariat of State, caught in a delicate balancing act between upholding the colonial order and safeguarding its missionary endeavors in the face of independence aspirations, all while maintaining its relations with France amidst its political transition from the Fourth to the Fifth Republic.By breaking free from official narratives and drawing upon previously untapped primary sources, this study invites us to move beyond simplistic schemas and grasp the complexity of relations between religious institutions and political powers in the postcolonial context of Algeria as the Évian Accords approached.

Keywords

• Holy See
• Algeria
• Evian Agreements