WILL HILTER KIDNAP THE POPE?
SEELY, Lt. Comdr. C. S.
Will Hitler Kidnap The Pope? By LT. COMDR. C. S. SEELY EVENTS IN ITALY are now approaching a dramatic climax, as regards the Pope and the Vatican. Not since Napoleon took the Pope to France as a...
...It is my opinion that if Hitler feels he will finally lose the war, he will take the churchmen along as hostages to hold against his life and the lives of the top Nazis in the event of defeat...
...Not since Napoleon took the Pope to France as a prisoner has the head of the Roman Church been in grave danger...
...Within the next few weeks Hitler will make one of his most momentous and historic decisions...
...Hitler can hardly afford this, and it must be his chief worry...
...as compared to Hitler, Napoleon was a mild man...
...He could well use this vast wealth to bribe Quislings, and in general to bolster his position with wavering accomplices...
...The opinions and assertions expressed above are the private ones of the writer and are not to be construed as official or reflecting the views of the Navy Department or the naval service at large...
...If Hitler takes the Pope and the cardinals to Germany, however, neither they nor any other high Church official will be able to say anything against Fascism, as obviously Hitler will hold the Pope accountable for the conduct of all Catholic leaders...
...He certainly will not worry about any other aspects of the situation...
...If Hitler takes the Pope to Germany, he no doubt will also take for "safety" all the gold, silver, diamonds, and other precious metals and stones now stored in the Vatican...
...He will decide whether to take into Germany as hostages, the Pope and some 30 cardinals, or allow them to fall into our hands...
...And there can hardly be any doubt that the danger is greater now than then...
...The Governing Factor Hitler certainly must suspect that if he allows the Pope to fall into Allied hands the Pope will denounce Fascism and Nazism, as many other high Catholic officials, who have escaped him, have done...
...Hitler, of course, is completely ruthless, and the only point he will consider in this matter is whether the seizure of the churchmen will help or hinder his cause...
...that if he feels he will finally win, he will allow the Pope and the cardinals to fall into our hands as a gesture of good will towards Catholics the world over...
...Would Seize Vatican Wealth As matters now stand it seems logical to assume that Hitler will not allow the Pope to escape, to get out of Nazi hands...
Vol. 7 • October 1943 • No. 41
