The Second World War through Jesuit Archives, The Case of Europe (1939–1945)

You are invited to the launch of The Second World War through Jesuit Archives: The Case of Europe (1939–1945), a collaborative publication drawing on Jesuit archival material from across Europe. Co‑edited by Damien Burke, Rebecca Somerset and Christian Taoutel, the richly illustrated book highlights the daily realities of Jesuits, as individuals and communities in their wider social contexts, ranging from relative safety for some, to the full extent of the war’s upheavals and violence for others.

The book launch marks a first-time collaborative project between the Roman Jesuit Archive (Archivio Romano della Compagnia di Gesù) (ARSI) and the Province Archives of the Jesuit Conference of European Provinces (JCEP). With general historical introductions for each chapter dedicated to a single country or specific geographical area, and guided by a focus on original sources, contributors set out to showcase the role of archives in preserving voices from the past. The result is an original and timely addition to the History of the Second World War for the general reader and the specialist alike.

Hosted by the Faculty of History and Cultural Heritage of the Church , the book will be launched by two experts in the field of Modern European History, Jan Mikrut (Pontifical Gregorian University) and Raffaella Perin (Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore), followed by a Question and Answer Session with IHSI Publications Editor, Dr Camilla Russell, and Chapter authors from the volume.

The launch will be conducted in Italian and English. Copies of the book will be available for purchase at a special launch discount of € 30. For online orders, please visit fondazionepolanco.org. At the conclusion of the presentation, refreshments will be served for registered participants.