Pius XII: The Life and Work of a Great Pope is a title that refers to several biographical books about Eugenio Pacelli, who served as Pope from 1939 to 1958 during World War II and the early Cold War. These books explore his early life and career as a diplomat and Vatican official, his controversial papacy during wartime, and his post-war efforts to rebuild and communicate with the world through new media like radio. Key themes include his policies on communism, his role during the Holocaust, and the complexity surrounding his legacy.