»Hitler wanted to kidnap pope«

Adolf Hitler gave one of his generals a direct order to kidnap Pope Pius XII during World War II...

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.