The Popes on Air: The History of Vatican Radio from Its Origins to World War II - Paperbackby Raffaella Perin (Author) The story of the origin of Vatican Radio provides a unique look at the history of World War II The book offers the first wide ranging study on the history of Vatican Radio from its origins (1931) to the end of Pius XII's pontificate (1958) based on unpublished sources. The opening of the Secret Vatican Archives on the records regarding Pius XII will shed light on the most controversial pontificate of the 20th century.