 However, the king remained resolutely opposed to Italy entering the war until late May 1940, much to Mussolini's intense frustration.At one point, Mussolini complained to Ciano that there were two men, namely Victor Emmanuel and Pope Pius XII, who were preventing him from doing the things that he wanted to do, leading to state he wanted to "blow" the Crown and Catholic Church "up to the skies".Victor Emmanuel was a cautious man, and he always consulted all of the available savants before making a decision, in this case, the senior officers of the armed forces who informed him of Italy's military deficiencies.