Secret WWII plan to move Vatican to Portugal if Pope Pius XII was captured (Telegraph)

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A fascinating plan has been uncovered by historians researching Pope Pius XII that would have moved the Vatican had the wartime pope been captured:

telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/religion/5195584/Vatican-planned-to-move-to-Portugal-if-Nazis-captured-wartime-Pope.html

"Pope Pius XII told senior bishops that should he be arrested by the Nazis, his resignation would become effective immediately, paving the way for a successor, according to documents in the Vatican’s Secret Archives.

The bishops would then be expected to flee to a safe country – probably neutral Portugal – where they would re-establish the leadership of the Roman Catholic Church and appoint a new Pontiff…"
 
I never knew that.
Knew about Hitler’s plan to kidnap him, but the rest is news to me!
Very cool
 
I’m sure that the (new) Bishop of Rome would’ve return to Rome after the violence ended.
 
Swiss_Guy said:
I’m sure that the (new) Bishop of Rome would’ve return to Rome after the violence ended.
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That seems likely. However, what if the Holy See settled in Olivenza, a city and surrounding land which has long been disputed by Spain and Portugal? Olivença (Portugal’s name for it) comprises about 280 square miles which would give plenty of room for growth. Declaring it to be an independent country under Vatican rule would end the centuries of animosity between Spain and Portugal regarding the area. And the low population density might allow for immigration for those eager to live in the Vatican City-State.
 
SamH said:
But why would that happen. “Everyone knows” that the Pope was an allie of Hitler during the war…:rolleyes:
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I’m guessing at least one of four things will happen when the anti-Pius XII crowd will read this:
  1. Forget about it and act like it never happened;
  2. Claim that it was a forgery from a priest to discredit Pius’s “involvement;”
  3. Claim that Pius - Hitler relations were so deep, that Hitler made a fake operation to kidnap the pope to let all responsibility of the Holocaust fall on Hitler (remember, the Holocaust was a “good” thing; you wouldn’t want another leader taking credit for it! :rolleyes: )
  4. Wise up and realize that they have been fed anti-Catholic propaganda, once again.
Praying for #4 on that list; however, if I were to bet on it, I would say #1 would be most popular, just ahead of #2.
 
I’ve heard the rumor was to move the Vatican to South America, but a lie travels around the world twice, before the truth can tie its own shoes.
 
Rolltide said:
A fascinating plan has been uncovered by historians researching Pope Pius XII that would have moved the Vatican had the wartime pope been captured:
Click to expand...
The headline is confused. It would not have been the Vatican that moved to Portugal; it would have been the Holy See and the Curia. The Vatican is a geographic location on the opposite side of the river from the seven hills of Rome. The Vatican was known by that name since prehistoric times, centuries before Christianity.
 
Yarb said:
The headline is confused. It would not have been the Vatican that moved to Portugal; it would have been the Holy See and the Curia. The Vatican is a geographic location on the opposite side of the river from the seven hills of Rome. The Vatican was known by that name since prehistoric times, centuries before Christianity.
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And “The Vatican” is a metonym for the Holy See and the Curia.
 
Not just the loss to the Church and the World had he been arrested, imagine also the loss to the church and the world had Hitler raided the Vatican archives and treasures.
 
Given the rise militant secularism in the West—not atheism so much as anti-theism—I think the Vatican would be wise not to discard those evacuation plans just yet. Perhaps the Curia will be forced to relocate in the not so distant future to South America, or Africa. Mexico would also be a safe destination. I say this because I wouldn’t be surprised if before long the anti-theist crowd tries to sack the Vatican—to the applause no doubt from the Mass Media and ‘progressive’ blogosphere.

The Church’s Curia would be safer in countries that cherish their Faith (as the vast majority of South American and African Catholics) than a West which is putting Sodom and Gomorrah to shame. And, by the way, I am not a ‘rad-trad’ nor do I even consider myself a traditionalist at all, I enjoy the OF Mass myself and believe in an empowered laity. I do consider myself to be a devout Catholic, though, and a pragmatic one, and would argue that if Papacy emerged stronger after its period of time at Avignon it can emerge stronger after another relocation-by-necessity.

Praise God, we might even be able to craft a new Papal States!
 
Vatican City is only one part of the Papal States. Avignon is another part.
 
Not_Sure said:
Vatican City is only one part of the Papal States. Avignon is another part.
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I find myself inclined to doubt that this is in any sense true of the tiny present-day papal state. Or of the Papal States that were overthrown in the 19th century.
 
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