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Mural commemorating Monsignor Hugh O'Flaherty, by Ursula Meehan, O'Flaherty Street, Killarney. The Monsignor is known as the Pimpernel of the Vatican. Alamy Stock Photo
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Irish priest who saved thousands from the Nazis commemorated with new stamp
Monsignor Hugh O’Flaherty saved more than 6,000 Allied prisoners of war, anti-Fascists, and Jews from Nazi concentration and prisoner-of-war camps.
A NEW STAMP was unveiled at the GPO today commemorating Monsignor Hugh O’Flaherty, an Irish priest who was ordained a century ago in Rome.
Born in Cork in 1898, O’Flaherty grew up in Killarney and studied for a BA in Theology in Rome.
He was ordained and assigned to the Vatican Diplomatic Service and served in Egypt, Haiti, Santo Domingo and what was formerly known as Czechoslovakia, before returning to Rome in 1938.
On his return he worked in the Holy Office.
From the late summer of 1943, O’Flaherty worked with “The Organisation”, a massive partisan network, to save more than 6,000 Allied prisoners of war, anti-Fascists, and Jews from Nazi concentration and prisoner-of-war camps.
Initially, many people dismissed accounts of Nazi atrocities as Allied propaganda, but O’Flaherty saw how Italian Jews were being treated during WWII. It’s noted that he realised Europe was witnessing and participating in a genocide.
From there, he worked to keep war refugees hidden and safe, and following the war, he was the only person to visit Gestapo chief Herbert Kappler – the head of Hitler’s secret police and a sworn adversary of O’Flaherty’s – in prison in Rome.
Kappler had repeatedly plotted to kidnap, torture, and execute O’Flaherty for his work in aiding those escaping Nazi persecution. O’Flaherty’s visit to Kappler was noted as a sign of his capacity for compassion, despite this.
O’Flaherty has been honoured with a statue and a mural in Co Kerry for his work. He was also the central focus of 1983 film The Scarlet and the Black, where he was portrayed by Gregory Peck.
Today, Minister for Culture Patrick O’Donovan unveiled the stamp commemorating O’Flaherty.
He said: “Few figures embody courage and compassion in the face of evil more than Monsignor Hugh O’Flaherty. His actions in Rome during the darkest days of the Second World War remind us of the power of conscience and humanity, even when doing what is right comes at great personal risk.
“This stamp is a fitting tribute to a remarkable Irishman whose legacy continues to inspire decency, courage and hope around the world.”
The new stamp by Irish designer Oonagh Young features a drawing of Monsignor O’Flaherty, commissioned when he was in Rome, with a silhouette of birds taking flight representing all those whom he helped to save.
Together with a special First Day Cover envelope, it is available from Thursday 23 October at selected post offices and online.
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