THE Vatican sought yesterday to quell its latest public dispute with Jewish groups, saying the Pope’s decision to move Pope Pius XII closer to sainthood isn’t an act of hostility against those who say he didn’t sufficiently denounce the Holocaust.

Pope Benedict XVI moved two of his predecessors closer to possible sainthood, signing decrees on the virtues of Pope John Paul II and the controversial Pope Pius XII – who has been criticised for not doing enough to prevent the Holocaust.

The Pope gave Second World War pontiff Pius XII a push toward possible sainthood today and defended his memory from accusations he did little to spare Jews from the Holocaust.

The Vatican today accused Jewish historians on a special Holocaust commission of ‘‘clearly incorrect behaviour,’’ charging that they have helped mount a ‘‘slanderous campaign’’ against the Catholic church.