Vatican urged to make Elena of Montenegro a saint

Supporters of Elena of Montenegro, the penultimate Queen of Italy, are urging the Vatican to consider her for beatification, despite her family's historical ties to fascism. Elena, who was married to King Victor Emmanuel III and served as queen from 1900 until 1946, has been a subject of debate due to her husband's controversial actions during the rise of Benito Mussolini and the implementation of the 1938 race laws that targeted the Jewish community in Italy. Elena's admirers argue that she should not be judged solely by her husband's actions. They emphasize that she did not show any support for Mussolini's regime or for Adolf Hitler's Nazi Germany. Instead, her supporters highlight her numerous charitable works and her commitment to humanitarian causes, which they believe exemplify her character and values. The push for her beatification reflects a broader discussion about the legacies of historical figures and the complexities of their associations. While some view her as a victim of her circumstances, others remain skeptical due to the actions of her husband and the political climate of the time. As the Vatican considers the case, the debate continues over how to reconcile Elena's legacy with the darker aspects of her family's history, raising questions about the criteria for sainthood and the impact of historical context on contemporary evaluations of character.