Pope proclaims crusade against GGR

The revolution in Germany was a shock to the world. But not to one man in Rome...

Pope Benedict XV knew what was going to happen in Germany... or at least had some suspicions. According to some of the Italian Federation's governing members he even issued warnings to the Kaiser, but to no avail (the other side claims that they received no warnings, however, furthering the confusion).   His first action after Ludendorff struck was an immediate condemnation of the revolutionaries and demand for every Catholic in Germany to resist them. While it seemed to slightly increase their resistance to the brainwashing signal (at least judging from the scale of the brief civil war in Bavaria), it wasn't enough to prevent the coup from succeeding.   He went further after the proclamation of Greater German Republic. He announced that the newly created Republic was a creation of the Devil, and had to be eliminated from the world. His almost apocalyptic message to the world culminated in the proclamation of a crusade against the Greater German Republic (later on expanded to include Soviet Russia as well), promising Heaven to every man fighting in the name of Christ (while following the demands of the Catholic doctrine of just war, i.e. no bombarding or targeting civilians etc.).   The reactions of the world varied. While it seemed insane, emergence of literal magic and the pope's swift victory in the Italian Civil War slightly pushed back the wall between what was seen as possible and things definitely impossible.   The Greater German Republic responded by summarily banning Catholicism and arresting any and all Catholic clergy and members of institutions, and forcing any and all Catholics to renounce their faith or face the consequences. Protestant Churches were allowed to function for the time being, though they were heavily monitored and restricted by the government, with many believing them to be banned as well as soon as the GGR is confident that it can control the populace enough to do so.   In the British and French armies, numerous Catholics were inspired by the pope's broadcasts. Many spoke of perhaps defecting to Italy to fight directly in the crusade. As a result, both Britain and France banned all papal broadcasts, and threatened to arrest any Catholic Priests who speak of the pope's crusade. The United States criticized this move immensely, with President Johnson threatening to reduce support for the Entente if they continued down this path of "restricting the freedoms that the western world holds dear."