Pius XII: The Dark Side reveals that Eugenio Pacelli, who became Pope Pius XII, rather than being principally a pastor, was a fixated, narcissistic diplomat and politician. The book tells the true story of how Pius' narrow perspective and his persistent, misguided political machinations led him down the tortuous paths of numerous international tragedies that had disastrous consequences for millions of innocent people. Pius, Hitler and Stalin were paranoiacs - Pius' great fear was Communism. The book clearly demonstrates that this obsession blighted his brilliant career to the end of his days.