Is the Vatican pro-oppression?

After seeing reports like thisI've got to start to wonder if the Vatican is supporting oppression, so long as it is the status quo.

The Vatican has a long history of supporting murderous dictators and violent violators of human rights. The most egregious example was the Vatican's silence during the Nazi/fascist regimes of WWII. Throughout the horrors inflicted on humanity by Hitler, the Pope said nothing.

Today, he is denouncing the US invasion of Iraq and terming it "a threat to the fate of humanity." He is also claiming that there is no legal or moral basis for our military action.

Earlier, when the Pope said that those making the war decisions would be responsible before God, I had no problem with it. The Pope is supposed to make statements about religious issues. His responsibility statement was a statement of a religious based position.

But his statements now are indicating a disconnect from reality. The Pope cannot believe that a regime which feeds citizens into shedders (as opposed to the ovens) is one that is worthy of protection. He has to understand that there is a moral justification for regime change. It is impossible to religiously justify the actions of the Iraqi regime in such a way that would be worthy of stopping an invasion on moral grounds. The only way I can the Pope making statements like this is if he were to completely and totally ignore the facts on the ground.

I can understand the Pope being generally opposed to war on principle. But he has to realize that there are times and situations in which military force is the best option (sort of the lesser of all evils). There are times when the status quo is not an acceptable outcome. The Vatican needs to true to its spirit, not to the dogmatic doctrine written by men years and years ago as they tried to avoid taking a real stand.

If the Catholic Church wants to stay relevant in the world they need to get in touch with the real world.