Robert Leiber
Robert Leiber, SJ ( born April 10, 1887 in Homberg, today part of Deggenhausertal, † February 18, 1967 in Rome) was a professor at the Pontifical Gregorian University and personal assistant, later private secretary Eugenio Pacelli of ( Pope Pius XII. ), In the years 1924-1958. He also worked as a Vatican diplomat secret support of the German resistance against National Socialism.
Life and work
Robert Leiber, born in Baden Deggenhausertal, Homberg district, entered the Society of Jesus and became a priest. Historically interested, he supported Ludwig Pastor in composing his multi-volume history of the Popes.
Since 1924 Father Leiber was Nuncio Eugenio Pacelli personal assistant to Munich and Berlin. In its appeal to the Roman Curia, he accompanied him also there. From 1930 Robert Leiber worked as a professor of Church History at the Gregorian University in Rome, where he worked until his death, and dwelt. After the papal election 1939 Father Leiber was private secretary to the closest personal environment of Pope Pius XII. and supported him in composing his speeches on various topics. An offer of Pope John XXIII. , To work for him further, he declined for health reasons and referred to his brother Augustin Bea. Leiber suffered from periodic attacks of asthma, which weakened him. He died in Rome in 1967 Robert Leiber had a fine sense of humor.; one of his favorite quotes was:
I congratulate you that you may bask in the shadow of the Holy See.
Secret diplomat
In the time of World War II ran the extremely dangerous contacts of parts of the German resistance to England, on the Bayern Joseph Müller, called " Ochsensepp ", which in turn went to Professor Robert Leiber in Rome. In his private rooms at the Gregorian - Piazza della Pilotta 4 - always the conspiratorial conversations took place. According to a report in the Mirror Magazine No. 20 of 1969, Müller and bodies were always very careful to work. Once Müller arrived in Rome, he had telephoned, without attribution, with: "I'm here " reported what bodies only gave the time of the meeting to answer. By Father Leiber from the contact led directly to the Pope, and through him to the British Ambassador to the Holy See, Sir Francis d' Arcy Osborne.