There has been a lot of discussion lately about the need to upgrade Pius XII Memorial Library.
As a 1992 Saint Louis University graduate and admirer of the 260th successor to St. Peter, I am eager to hear University officials state outright that contributions to the “fix up Pius” fund will not be tied to naming rights.
Under no circumstances should plans to renovate, update, expand or even replace the library include supplanting the late pontiff’s name with that of any contributor, large or small. The University’s academic crossroads and signature repository for the printed word already has a name, and it is a very good one.
Pope Pius served the church with distinction from 1939-58, advocating peace, piety and level-headedness at a time of profound madness in much of the world.
With his consent and the support of the Knights of Columbus came the microfilming of 37,000 Vatican documents, allowing research to take place at SLU that previously could only be undertaken in Rome. Such research continues to this day, while the Vatican Library is closed for renovation.
Banishing Pius’ name from campus would be an insult to the university’s Catholic heritage and identity. The only name change should come at the time of venerable Pius’ eventual canonization, at which time the building and the collections it houses will be renamed “St. Pius XII Memorial Library.”
–Jay Nies, Arts and Sciences alumnus ’92
