Vatican Radio says papers have been uncovered showing Pope Pius XII tried to save Italian Jews from the Nazis during World War II.
The radio said Wednesday that nuns in a Rome monestary turned up a document dated November 1943 that said the pope wanted monasteries to shelter Jews.
Israel and Jewish leaders have said Pope Pius ignored Nazi crimes against Jews and others during the war. Israel has criticized Vatican efforts to declare Pius a saint.
Israel has urged the Vatican to open its archives so the question about Pius can be settled.
Vatican officials say Pius worked quietly to save Jews. They say more lives would have been endangered if he acted publicly.
Some information for this report was provided by AFP and AP.
