Partisan approach of the ‘Vatican Pimpernel’

GERARD O’Regan (March 15) seems satisfied with Dan Buckley’s article (February 27) in praise of Monsignor Hugh O’Flaherty – the Vatican Pimpernel – in wartime Rome.

I would go most of the way with O’Regan and Buckley. However, I do wish Msgr O’Flaherty had confined his honourable humanitarian contribution to civilians/non-combatants only.

For the moment he aided escaping Allied prisoners, he discarded his non-partisan status and violated Vatican (and Irish) neutrality. Nonetheless, this exceptional Irish priest will always be remembered for his wonderful work in the service of suffering humanity.