On November 9th, 2008, it was 70 years since Maurice Bavaud tried to assassinate Hitler in Munich. After prolonged torture, he was murdered by the Nazis on May 14th, 1941, after ‘legal’ proceedings followed by a sentence to death. He was officially rehabilitated by Germany in 1956.

In his letter to the people and the nation of Switzerland of November, Swiss President Pascal Couchepin reminded his fellow ‘comrades in oath’ (the official term used for all Swiss nationals ‘Eidgenossen’) of Maurice Bavaud. He drew attention to the perspicacity of the then 22 year old in seeing in Hitler a danger to Humanity, Switzerland, and the Catholic Church, (as Bavaud stated during the process in Germany leading to his death sentence). His exemplary sacrifice will be remembered and honoured by the nation now and in future times.

Image credit: Maurice Bavaud Memorial Trust

Maurice Bavaud was born 1916 in Neuchâtel, capital in the State and Republic of the same name. After finishing technical school, he entered seminary to become a Catholic missionary and priest. In October 1938 he travelled to Germany, spending time in Munich and Berchtesgaden. He hoped by pretending to be a fanatical follower of Hitler to be accorded a place of honour at the gathering to commemorate Kristallnacht, in which he succeeded. Concealing a pistol in his mantle, he failed due to a too great distance between his seat and Hitler. He was murdered by guillotine in 1941.

It is a clear sign that the Catholic Church was run by Nazis during and after the Second World War, that he has not been canonised earlier. It is a sign of the present Nazi leadership of the Catholic Church that he has not been amongst the many newly canonised of last month. As the Pope was an active member of Hitler Youth movement, this may hardly surprise though.

Amongst the canonised of last month are the, outside of Venezuela, completely unknown nun Mother Bernarda of Switzerland, and the gay Cardinal Newman, a former Church of England vicar. The exclusion of Bavaud in such proceedings including unknown and controversial figures has therefore the greatest significance. It is to be hoped that upon the succession to the present popelet a born Christian may be chosen to lead the Catholic Church.