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January 16, 2005 -- VATICAN CITY — Adolf Hitler gave one of his generals a direct order to kidnap Pope Pius XII during World War II, but the officer did not obey, Italy's leading Roman Catholic newspaper reported yesterday.
The Avvenire newspaper, owned by the Italian Conference of Roman Catholic bishops, said new details of the plot had emerged in documents presented to the Vatican in favor of putting the controversial wartime pontiff on the road to sainthood.
Elements of alleged plots to abduct the pope during Germany's occupation of Italy have already emerged in the past from some historians, but Avvenire's full-page report said its details were new.
Avvenire said Hitler feared the pope would be an obstacle to his plans for global domination because the dictator wanted to eventually abolish Christianity.
The newspaper said the details of the plot are in testimony that SS General Karl Friedrich Otto Wolff, a senior occupation officer in Italy, gave before he died in Germany to Church officials.
Reuters
The Avvenire newspaper, owned by the Italian Conference of Roman Catholic bishops, said new details of the plot had emerged in documents presented to the Vatican in favor of putting the controversial wartime pontiff on the road to sainthood.
Elements of alleged plots to abduct the pope during Germany's occupation of Italy have already emerged in the past from some historians, but Avvenire's full-page report said its details were new.
Avvenire said Hitler feared the pope would be an obstacle to his plans for global domination because the dictator wanted to eventually abolish Christianity.
The newspaper said the details of the plot are in testimony that SS General Karl Friedrich Otto Wolff, a senior occupation officer in Italy, gave before he died in Germany to Church officials.
Reuters
The Autobahn, Volkswagen and now this... He may have been a monster but at least he had a few good ideas.
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