St. Charles Palace (Rome)

 office building, Second World War 1939-1945, place with historical importance, housing services

Palace of San Carlo
Former 'Vatican Information Office' until 1947.
These offices received the dispatches sent by the Holy See. Replies were sent daily by messenger under diplomatic seal sometimes undercover.
During periodic visits to refugee internment camps, hospitals and other facilities, the papal representatives, in addition to offering spiritual help, distributed mail and aid among the prisoners, including books, medicines, food, clothing, tobacco and even musical instruments.
On established days and times, Vatican Radio transmitted lists of prisoners' names, both civilian and military, and of refugees and missing persons. It also broadcasted news and messages gathered by nunciatures, papal delegations and diocesan curias, which tried to contact the families.

To expedite and increase the messages recived during these visits of the Information Office, as well as mail exchanges via the Office, conventional numbers were mentioned on Vatican radio instead of phrases. For example, number 3 meant "I am well," number 11 "I await your news," and number 13 "my address is the following.
Far higher was the number of requests that arrived by mail. A file card was filled out for each letter, and was assigned a protocol number. The inquiries were received with no distinctions made as to race, religion, nationality or civil status.

The records created by the various sections of the Vatican Information Office, divided in lots of a thousand, were put in wooden boxes at the end of the day. The records were updated daily.

To carry out this enormous work, an appeal was made to volunteers of Catholic Action and to numerous nuns in Rome.

Inquires were transmitted to papal representations worldwide. Forms with responses were classified in a special section, and the records were updated, noting information sent on to the families.
Among its functions, the information office had to assist Jewish citizens living in territories occupied and controlled by Germany. Correspondence sent to Jewish Germans and Slavs was often blocked or rejected by the German censor.