„To the Honorable Mr. Adolf Hitler, Führer and Chancellor of the German Reich! Here, at the beginning of our pontificate, we wish to assure you that we remain dedicated to the spiritual welfare of the German people entrusted to your leadership [...] During the many years we spent in Germany, we did everything in our power to establish harmonious relations between Church and State. Now that the responsibilities of our pastoral role have increased our opportunities, we pray all the more ardently to achieve this goal. May the prosperity of the German people and their progress in all areas be realized, with God's help“

- Pope Pius XII, March 6, 1939.

Quoted in:

John Cornwell, Hitler's Pope: The Secret History of Pius XII, ch.12, pp.208, 2002.