THE CHURCH IS NOT A MAN:

Vatican planned to move to Portugal if Nazis captured wartime Pope (Nick Squires in Rome and Simon Caldwell, 22 Apr 2009, Daily Telegraph)

Pope Pius XII told senior bishops that should he be arrested by the Nazis, his resignation would become effective immediately, paving the way for a successor, according to documents in the Vatican's Secret Archives.

The bishops would then be expected to flee to a safe country – probably neutral Portugal – where they would re-establish the leadership of the Roman Catholic Church and appoint a new Pontiff.