Love Thy Neighbor...And Enemy

I search for stories like these. One of courage and bravery; of putting others before yourself and risking one's life to save those in need. Wrapped up in all of this, I look for stories where forgiveness is evident.

I found this in the story of Hugh O’Flaherty.

This Irish priest worked and lived in Rome during the Nazi's occupation. He was in charge of a secret operation to hide and house Allied servicemen and Jews who came to Vatican for sanctuary.

Colonel Herbert Kappler, the head of the Gestapo in Rome, ruled the city ruthlessly. He was highly thought of by Adolf Hitler and did everything in his power to bring about the evil regime's desires in Rome.

Soon, Kappler learned of Monsignor O'Flaherty. These two men worked completely against each other. O'Flaherty strived tirelessly to hide the escapees while Kappler, with just as much fervor, worked to find them.

Kappler became madly obsessed with seeking out O'Flaherty and putting an end to this operation. This was not an easy task. O'Flaherty was able to outwit his enemy through fake documents, secret communication channels and finding out when the next German raids would take place.

O'Flaherty was able to escape capture through many uses of disguise causing the bewildered Kappler to became even more enraged.

In 1944, Kappler drew out a plan that caused the death of 335 people in the Ardeatine Caves; tunnels outside of the city. It was the worst act of brutality on Italian soil during WWII.

When the Allies liberated Rome, Kappler was sentenced to life in prison because of this massacre.

In a surprise turn of events, Kappler wrote to his old enemy O'Flaherty asking him for a visit. O'Flaherty complied and after this first meeting, O'Flaherty came to visit Kappler every month forging an unlikely friendship with the man that had once plotted his death.

Documents show that these men truly liked each other and enjoyed spending time together. O'Flaherty once said, "Here I am, this man who had 30,000 lire over my head for information and now we are sort of pals.” Kappler saw O'Flaherty as "a fatherly friend."

Eventually, Herbert Kappler was baptized into the Catholic faith by the hands of Hugh O'Flaherty.

O'Flaherty received awards and accolades for saving over six and a half thousand people during the war. While this in and of itself is truly remarkable, forgiveness and showing love to your enemy is something that must be noted when O'Flaherty's exceptional life is discussed.

His life is an inspiration, one of great courage and one of great love.