In April 1929, Mussolini was publicly praised by the Pope (Pope Pius XI) as a &amp;#8220;man sent by providence&amp;#8221; and the priests told their parishioners they should vote for Mussolini. Mussolini won 98.33 per cent of the vote.
From Geoffrey Robertson QC, The Case of the Pope
See Christopher Duggan, The Force of Destiny: A History of Italy since 1796 (Allen Lane London, 2007)