Nazareno Padellaro's Portrait of Pius XII (translated by Michael Derrick) offers a positive, well-informed biographical account of Pope Pius XII (Eugenio Pacelli), portraying him as a significant pontiff, a beacon of hope challenging Nazi and Stalinist ideologies, and a paternal figure concerned with world peace and Christian life, even while incorporating Catholic doctrine on faith and human nature, making it a valuable, though potentially based, look at his challenging wartime papacy. In essence, Padellaro presents a sympathetic yet detailed look at Pius XII, framing him as a strong spiritual leader navigating immense global crises, though readers today should be aware of later criticisms that offer contrasting perspectives on his wartime role.