A group of archivists from the Jesuit Conference of European Provincials (JCEP) supported the General Curia’s Historical Archive of the Society of Jesus on the publication of a book on the Jesuit documents about the Second World War. A new book drawing on the rich holdings of Jesuit archives across Europe offers a fresh and deeply human perspective on the Second World War. The Second World War through Jesuit Archives: The Case of Europe (1939–1945) brings together personal letters, diaries and community records to explore how members of the Society of Jesus experienced and responded to the upheaval of war. The book will be available from March 1st here. 

The JCEP Group of Archivists is one of the Conference's more than 20 transversal groups. As this case demonstrates, collaboration at the Conference level enables local institutions to reach new heights of agency that, otherwise, would remain out of their reach.

Co-edited by Rebecca Somerset, Archivist for the British Jesuit Archives—who also contributed a chapter—the volume draws on material from Jesuit collections in Britain and across Europe, and in some cases beyond. Together, these sources highlight the diversity of wartime experiences within the Society, shaped by different national, political and pastoral contexts.

Rather than focusing on major political or military events, the book centres on what has survived in the archives. Through correspondence, reports and personal reflections, it reveals how Jesuits lived and worked as teachers, scholars, chaplains and pastors amid uncertainty, displacement and danger. The records show communities adapting to rapidly changing circumstances while continuing their educational, pastoral and spiritual missions.

Rebecca Somerset explains that the project was prompted by recent developments in archival access:

“The opening of the Pius XII papers in the Vatican Archives in 2020, followed by the release of the archives of the Superior General of the Society (ARSI), provided the catalyst for conversations with colleagues in other European Jesuit archives—including those from provinces that had remained neutral—about the material held from the Second World War period.”

These exchanges, she notes, led to the idea for the book:

“Conceived not as a definitive guide to the collections, but as a practical overview and an invitation for scholars to pursue deeper research in this field.”

Reflecting on the outcome, she adds:

“I feel that we have succeeded in our aim to produce an introductory, informative, and attractive guide to showcase material held by European Jesuit archives relating to the period 1939–45, and I am excited to see what research is done as a result of this guide.”

The international nature of the Society of Jesus is clearly reflected in the sources used. Stories emerge from different parts of Europe and beyond, building a picture of how global conflict was encountered at a local and personal level, and how faith, learning and service continued under immense pressure.

The book also underlines the vital role of archives in preserving voices that might otherwise be lost. Many of the documents were never intended for publication, yet today they offer valuable insight into the moral, emotional and practical realities of wartime life.

Alongside the publication, the British Jesuit Archives has developed an online exhibition showcasing documents from the seventeen European Jesuit archives that participated in the project. The exhibition, to be launched shortly, explores common themes across the collections and includes an interactive map to situate the material geographically.

The Second World War through Jesuit Archives: The Case of Europe (1939–1945) will be available from 1 March 2026 here.