Media Takes the Side of Communists in Argentine War to Attack Pope

Edit: stories attempting to downplay Papa Bergoglio’s relationship to Argentina’s anti-Communist leadership during 70s and into the 80s doesn’t look very credible.  And who gets to decide it was a “dirty war”?  The allegedly conservative boulevard mag the  Daily Mail? Since when do they take the side of Communist insurgents?


Rome (kath.net/KNA) while he German media is currently whipping up a “black legend” against the newly elected Pope Francis, there are new details about the role of the former Jesuit Provincial Jorge Mario Bergoglio in the Argentine military dictatorship (1976-1983).  This is according to the periodical “peril”of an interview immediately after the Papal election on the internet site, that they had conducted already in 2010 with the former Cardinal.

In that Bergolio describes how he had gained entrance into the house of the former military dictator General Jorge Videla (87), in order to appeal for clergy who had been imprisoned and abducted by the military.  At that time the Jesuit Provincial Bergolio contacted the military chaplain who said Mass regularly in Vidal’s residence.

They arranged that the priest would claim a sudden illness and Bergolio was then  proposed as a replacement priest for the Mass in the General’s house.  The plan worked, and the Jesuit celebrated Mass with the entire Vidal family.  Finally he asked the General in a personal discussion, to appeal for the imprisoned priests.

This and other contacts to Vidal as well as to Admiral Emilio Massera would be portrayed by journalists 30 years after the events, as intimate contacts to those in power.  Bergoglio had publicly explained and founded his disposition and motives during the time of the unjust regime
 [sic]. At least twice he was a witness at a court trial to this fact, and in the “peril” interview he described further details.  Never the less, his reputation was damaged -- and in 2005 there had been adverse accusations which meant that Bergoglio would not become Pope at the Conclave.

The polemics against the Cardinal received support at that time from assertions of journalist Horacio Verbitsky, that Bergoglio is supposed to have not protected Jesuit priests Francisco Jalics and Orlando Yorio from persecution by the military.  Bergoglio contradicted, he is supposed to have warned and urged them, to bring themselves to the safety of the Provincial headquarters.  Both did not obey and decided for the path of open resistance -- and its dangers, to be arrested.  As this happened,  he appealed for them afterward.  Both were released after some months.  One of the two died in the meantime; the other one received a formal pardon.

Bergoglio comported himself in his situation like some Bishops of the Evangelical Church in the former DDR, who considered the radical ways of some pastors against the Communist regime as indeed imprudent,  but then also tried to help them, as the power of the state worked against them.  In contrast to the revelation of the misdeeds of the DDR, there is no archival evidence for support in Argentina. So in many cases it is statement against statement.

It is a fact that many Catholic Bishops in Argentina then sympathized with the military and were silent about the human rights abuses. [Good for them]  Only some of them intervened for those persecuted.   The former Jesuit Superior Bergoglio is considered, as also Nobel Peace Prize Winner and human rights activist Adolfo Perez Esquivel (81)  stressed recently,  a noteworthy exception.

[That’s why he was passionately advocating a just war for the Junta in the Falklands?]

Argentine War Hero: Do Penance and Go to Mass

Commander Carbello and Aviation Student

The conflict between Argentina and the United Kingdom irrupted in 1982 on April 2nd.  It's been 10 years since a British task force arrived to retake those remote islands.   The most significant opponents this task force faced was the Argentinian Air Force whose attacks cost them dearly and may have made their efforts untenable at last.

One Air Commander Pablo Carballo, former A-4B pilot (Argentinian Air Force) who flew the mission which destroyed HMS Coventry [Thanks to reader for correction]  with Commander Carlos Rinke on May 4th in 1982, was one of those threats.

This accomplishment, whatever one's national sympathies are, is a tribute to the professionalism and dedication of Argentine aviators and ground crew.  It is especially a tribute to  those who flew those dangerous missions in the face of death.  Yet what is most impressive about the man who dealt the British task force a terrible blow, Commander Carballo, who is something of a war hero in Argentina, is his dedication to the Catholic Faith.

What does he say to the young men who look up to him?

Man, you want to truly honour me? Go to a church, look for a priest, confess your sins, and attend Mass