Vatican tries to calm anger over Pope Pius XII

Vatican officials tried to patch up a growing dispute with Jewish leaders by saying the decision to move wartime Pope Pius XII closer to sainthood was based on his "piety" not his "politics".

Pope Pius XII has been condemned for not doing enough to prevent the Holocaust and his path to canonisation has sparked outcry.

Last week, Pope Benedict XVI signed a decree proclaiming the "heroic virtues" of Pope Pius – throwing the current Pontiff's planned visit to Rome's synagogue next month into doubt.

However in an attempt to dampen the row, the Vatican issued a statement which said it the decree should not be seen as a "hostile act".