Your Holiness:  
 
 
 
 
The communication of May 19, 1943 from Your Holiness setting forth In eloquent language the deep   
feelings of emotion with which Your Holiness views the devastating effects of war on Italy   
strikes a very responsive chord in my heart. No one appreciates more than I the ceaseless efforts   
of Your Holiness to prevent tae outbreak of war in Europe in 1939 and subsequently to limit its   
contagion. Your Holiness is familiar with the repeated efforts which were made in 1940 by this   
Government, and by many elements within the United States to deter the Chief of the Italian   
government from plunging his country and countrymen into a ruinous war whose outcome, I reminded   
him even at that time, could only prove disastrous.
 
     
 
 
The sympathetic resonse of Your Holiness to the many appeals of the Italian people on behalf   
of their country is understood and appreciated by me. May I say that Americans are among those   
who value most the religious shrines and the historical monuments of Italy. However, my   
countrymen are likewise united in their determination to win the war which has been thrust upon   
them and for which the present government of Italy must have its full responsibility. My   
countrymen and l deplore the loss of life on both sides which must result and the destruction of   
property and resources.
 
     
 
 
Attacks against Italy are limited, to the extent humanly possible, to military objectives.   
We have not and will not make warfare on civilians or against nonmilitary objectives. In the   
event it should be found militarily necessary for Allied planes to operate over
 
 
 
His Holiness
 
 
 
Pius XII,
 
 
 
Vatican City