'Nice surprises' on Pius XII in archives?

VATICAN CITY, July 2 (UPI) -- The priest in charge of the Vatican's secret archives says the documents on Pope Pius XII show he did his best to save Jews during World War II.

Monsignor Sergio Pagano was questioned about the pope's files Thursday during a news conference on Galileo, the Italian news agency ANSA said. The files are scheduled to be opened in 2014 or 2015.

''When the archives can be published there'll be some nice surprises,'' he said.

Pius became pope shortly before the outbreak of World War II in Europe and served until his death in 1958. His supporters, who included many Jewish leaders immediately after the war, argue he kept silent about the Nazis because he thought he could save more lives through apparent conciliation.

The debate is hot at the moment because Pius is a candidate for sainthood and because the Yad Vashem Museum in Israel gives an unflattering picture of his record. Pope Benedict XVI, during a recent trip to Israel, visited the Yad Vashem Memorial but did not enter the museum.