 With Italy not yet an ally of Hitler in the war , Italians were called upon to remain faithful to the Church . Pius avoided explicit denunciations of Hitlerism or Stalinism , establishing the " impartial " public tone which would become controversial in later assessment of his pontificate : " A full statement of the doctrinal stand to be taken in face of the errors of today , if necessary , can be put off to another time unless there is disturbance by calamitous external events ; for the moment We limit Ourselves to some fundamental observations . " 
