This week in the war, on 12 March 1944, Pope Pius XII appealed to all warring parties that Rome be spared from destruction.

It had become obvious that the Allies would eventually penetrate the Gustav line at Cassino and that they would also break out from the bridgehead around Anzio. Rome’s fall was inevitable.

The Pope wished to put the Vatican’s neutrality to good use by arranging for Rome to change hands without the street-by-street fighting that was commonplace in so many cities in Eastern Europe.

Earlier, the Pope had tried to use his influence to prevent the outbreak of war in 1939 and, later, to arrange for the safe passage of refugees. Despite his having good relations with Germany and his admiration of German culture, he had no liking for the Nazi elite which ruled that country.