The Apostolic Delegate at Washington ( Cicognani ) to President Roosevelt 24
Mr. President: I have just received Your Excellency’s communication25 containing a response to the message from His Holiness which was forwarded by me in a letter of June 15th.26 In the name of the Holy Father I wish to express deepest gratitude for the consideration which has been given to this appeal.
With hope and firm confidence I have always noted in the pronouncements of Your Excellency the resolve to give the Italian people an opportunity to choose the kind of government based on democratic principles which they may wish to establish, and I have not failed to call it to the attention of the Holy See. It is my conviction that the Holy Father will be gratified to learn of the hope that is fostered by Your Excellency for the restoration of Italy as a respected member of the European family of nations.
In regard to the possibility of bombardment of Rome, the Holy See has been informed of the efforts made by the Government of the United States to reduce this possibility to a minimum. In this regard nevertheless I recently received a communication from His Eminence, the Cardinal Secretary of State, and in a letter to Mr. Myron C. Taylor, under date of June 28th, I had the honor to present further considerations of His Eminence on the demilitarization of Rome, and on the precarious situation facing the Vatican now, and especially in the event of a bombardment of Rome.
I am confident that the pleas of the Holy Father will continue to meet with the benevolent consideration of [on] the part of Your Excellency and of the Allied Governments, and it shall be my duty to inform His Holiness of your courteous letter directed to me.
With the assurances [etc.]
Archbishop of Laodicea