Pope Pius Further accounts preparation to save -not fortuitous

Priest and Monsignor

http://http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pope_Pius_XII
He was ordained a priest on Easter Sunday, April 2, 1899 by Bishop Francesco di Paola Cassetta — the vice-regent of Rome and a family friend — and received his first assignment as a curate at Chiesa Nuova, where he had served as an altar boy.[7] In 1901, he entered the Congregation for Extraordinary Ecclesiastical Affairs, a sub-office of the Vatican Secretariat of State, where he became a minutante, at the recommendation of Cardinal Vannutelli, another family friend.[7]

Pacelli on the day of his ordination, April 2, 1899
In 1904, Pacelli became a papal chamberlain and in 1905 a domestic prelate.[7] From 1904 until 1916, Father Pacelli assisted Cardinal Pietro Gasparri in his codification of canon law with the Department of Extraordinary Ecclesiastical Affairs.[8] He was also chosen by Pope Leo XIII to deliver condolences on behalf of the Vatican to Edward VII of the United Kingdom after the death of Queen Victoria.[9] In 1908, he served as a Vatican representative on the International Eucharistic Congress in London,[9] where he met Winston Churchill.[10] In 1911, he represented the Holy See at the coronation of King George V.[8]
In 1908 and 1911, Pacelli turned down professorships in canon law at a Roman university and The Catholic University of America, respectively. Pacelli became the under-secretary in 1911, adjunct-secretary in 1912 (a position he received under Pope Pius X and retained under Pope Benedict XV) and secretary of the Department of Extraordinary Ecclesiastical Affairs in 1914 — succeeding Gasparri, who was promoted to Cardinal Secretary of State.[8] As secretary, Pacelli concluded a concordat with Serbia four days before Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria was assassinated in Sarajevo.[11] During World War I, Pacelli maintained the Vatican's registry of prisoners of war. In 1915, he travelled to Vienna to assist Monsignor Scapinelli — the apostolic nuncio to Vienna — in his negotiations with Franz Joseph I of Austria regarding Italy.[12]Priest and Monsignor
He was ordained a priest on Easter Sunday, April 2, 1899 by Bishop Francesco di Paola Cassetta — the vice-regent of Rome and a family friend — and received his first assignment as a curate at Chiesa Nuova, where he had served as an altar boy.[7] In 1901, he entered the Congregation for Extraordinary Ecclesiastical Affairs, a sub-office of the Vatican Secretariat of State, where he became a minutante, at the recommendation of Cardinal Vannutelli, another family friend.[7]

Pacelli on the day of his ordination, April 2, 1899
In 1904, Pacelli became a papal chamberlain and in 1905 a domestic prelate.[7] From 1904 until 1916, Father Pacelli assisted Cardinal Pietro Gasparri in his codification of canon law with the Department of Extraordinary Ecclesiastical Affairs.[8] He was also chosen by Pope Leo XIII to deliver condolences on behalf of the Vatican to Edward VII of the United Kingdom after the death of Queen Victoria.[9] In 1908, he served as a Vatican representative on the International Eucharistic Congress in London,[9] where he met Winston Churchill.[10] In 1911, he represented the Holy See at the coronation of King George V.[8]
In 1908 and 1911, Pacelli turned down professorships in canon law at a Roman university and The Catholic University of America, respectively. Pacelli became the under-secretary in 1911, adjunct-secretary in 1912 (a position he received under Pope Pius X and retained under Pope Benedict XV) and secretary of the Department of Extraordinary Ecclesiastical Affairs in 1914 — succeeding Gasparri, who was promoted to Cardinal Secretary of State.[8] As secretary, Pacelli concluded a concordat with Serbia four days before Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria was assassinated in Sarajevo.[11] During World War I, Pacelli maintained the Vatican's registry of prisoners of war. In 1915, he travelled to Vienna to assist Monsignor Scapinelli — the apostolic nuncio to Vienna — in his negotiations with Franz Joseph I of Austria regarding Italy.[12]

His experience in the world of his time was extraordinary and unparalleled in his background attained in canon law and in his functions as nuncio and secretary of state had many exposures to European monarchs and exposure to Bavarian culture . He served many pontiffs, Pius X and Benedict XV ,Leo XIII, and Pius XI,met Winston Churchill in 1908. Lived a full life in diplomacy and scholarship also. His exposures were not the result of chance but a training sublime in wisdom ,later to his advantage and incrementing his salvific role.

Note the numerous videos I have of him at www.myspace.com/edwardsgallery under my blog entries.