First of all did you not know it was not the pope, but Father Hugh OFlarrety , a high offical of the Catholic church that was responsible for the hiding of many jews, and soldiers through out Rome during the occupation of Italy by the germans. Father Oflarrety was hunted by the ss and in the end converted the very man the head of the ss, to the Catholic faith. This priest was awarded the highest medals from the United States and England. I know my history and if you studied Catholic history , according to history ,before you politically correct guys, the historians all claim the pope was afraid of Hitler , that Hitler would disband the VATICAN , and put in a phony pope who Hitler appointed. Pius before he died said he gave in to the ss in Rome too much. This statement came from him. Maybe you want to talk to a man who says nuke Israel and I should give up my faith to Islam but I prefer not too. Give that mouse a cookie and get the milk buster.Study history before you condem someone.
Unfortunately, the pope has to be as much a politician as a shepard of the church, and any actions he may have openly taken against Hitler would have had dire consequences. The SS were pagan in their beliefs, worshiping the old Germanic/Norse Gods, and vehemently persecuted all Christians, especially Catholics. The deaths that may have caused would have far out numbered the amount of those who would have been saved. Discretion and secrecy were the best ways to fight Hitler at that time. Pope Pius may have given in a little too much to them, but if your city was occupied with thousands of Nazi soldiers, you don't really have a choice in a lot of matters. The pope did what he could, when he could. I would have loved for the Church to have been more proactive in the helping of our Jewish brethren, but Monday morning quarterbacking does not change anything or help any body. Most European leaders at that time appeased Hitler too much.
I feel the same way as you on that Iranian nut case. It's not the pope's position, however, to go out and say, "Go ahead, nuke the bastard". That wouldn't be very Christian of him :) I can assure you, Pope Benedict XVI has no love for Islam, but he is simply acting as a "cautious voice" in this circumstance. The Iranian people hate this guy, especially the students, and including many of the people that once supported him. There is still hope for that country, and the pope knows it. If anything happens, it is likely that Israel will take them out first, with air support from us. I am very pro-Israel, and I want this Muslim filth taken out.
Please just don't go all out on the Pope or the Church, because some low-level guy in the Vatican made a statement of his own opinion. Thats like having Senator Kennedy making a statement, and someone reporting it as American foreign policy. I will defend my faith to the death, and if you have an issue with it, please be civil about it. There have been many scandals throughout history, most recently with the pedophile filth that came in during the 60's and 70's. Just remember, "the gates of hell shall not prevail against it", and for the last 2,000 years, Christ's words have held true. I do apologize if I come out swinging too harshly, I am just sick of having to defend my church from fellow Christians. I'd rather be fighting Muslims and Atheists. Have a good weekend.