A Special Mission

Hey, remember me? The hiatus lasted longer than I had planned. However, I did do some reading while I was away from the blog. While browsing around Border's a few weeks ago I happened to walk into the history section and saw Dan Kurzman's A Special Mission: Hitler's Secret Plot to Seize the Vatican and Kidnap Pope Pius XII.

The book was quite interesting and well written. It tells the story of Hitler's plan to kidnap the pontiff and the men who for various reasons plotted to foil the plan from within the Nazi party. It also gives some insight into the moral dilemma faced by Pope Pius XII. The book does not condemn Pope Pius XII's actions without being overly apologetic either. As a matter of fact the books main focus is on those Nazi officers who would risk their careers, and lives, to prevent Hitler from invading the Vatican for various reasons.

I think it would be a very good book for anyone wanting to know more about this much debated period in Church history.