Questions Over Pope Francis and the Argentine Dictatorship

The election of Pope Francis has sparked renewed controversy over the Argentine Church's relationship with the 1976-1983 dictatorship, with some accusing the then bishop Jorge Bergoglio of turning a blind eye to the regime's persecution of left-wing priests, while others say he in fact protected them and helped them flee the country.

Published

2 months ago

Categories

World, Arts & Society

Topics

South America, Religion & Spirituality, History

People

Federico Lombardi, Jorge Mario Bergoglio, Pope Francis I, Francisco Jalics, Orlando Yorio

Places

Italy, Argentina, Rome, Buenos Aires, Vatican City

Transcript

SCRIPT: This is the notorious Naval Engineering School in Buenos Aires – between 1976 and 1983, Argentina’s dictatorship turned it into a prison and torture centre for dissidents. Around 5,000 people died here,In the period now known as the "Dirty War". Among the prisoners were two Jesuit priests, Orlando Yorio and Francisco Jalics, detained for preaching Marxist-inspired Liberation theology in Buenos Aires’ slums. Their families asked the then head of Argentina’s Jesuits, Jorge Mario Bergoglio, now Pope Francis, to help get them released. Some now allege he turned a blind eye to their plight – or perhaps did worse. SOUNDBITE 1 Fernando Cibeira, national news editor of Pagina 12 (Spanish, 15 sec): "Obviously, it is an episode that isn't clear, what was his role during the dictatorship, and as I said: Yorio died convinced that he had been given up by Bergoglio to the repressive regime". (In Spanish: "Obviamente es un episodio que no está claro, cuál fue su papel que jugó en la dictadura, y repito, Yorio murió convencido de que había sido entregado por Bergoglio a la represión.) The other tortured priest, Francisco Jalics, is still alive, and has said he does not blame Bergoglio for his detention. Argentina has re-opened a number of human rights cases connected to the dictatorship in recent years – and Bergoglio was called to testify as a witness in 2010 over the disappearance of a French priest. Some human rights activists have defended him – saying he in fact protected victims of the dictatorship. SOUNDBITE 2: Julio Fernández Baraibar, historian and advisor to the Culture Secretary (Baraibar is publicly a supporter of the Kirchner government) (Spanish, 20 sec) " I am aware of friends, of people who were persecuted during that time, that Jorge Bergoglio helped, he helped a lot of priests and people who weren't priests to hide and leave the country when they were persecuted by the dictatorship". (In Spanish: "A mí me consta de amigos, de gente que ha estado en situaciones de persecución en aquella época que Jorge Bergoglio entones ayudó a muchos sacerdotes y no sacerdotes a ocultarse y salir del país en el momento en que eran perseguidos por la dictadura.) The Vatican also said he had defended victims in a statement on Friday. The Church hierarchy spoke out against the military regime – and some bishops even supported it, but there’s no evidence that shows Jorge Bergoglio was among them. Many who lived through the period defend Pope Francis today. They say the climate of fear and personal risk at the time made it impossible to speak up. But as Argentina continues to investigate the crimes of that era, it’s unlikely these questions will go away. SHOTLIST: SEQUENCE 1: BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA, 11 FEBRUARY 2011, SOURCE: AFPTV -exterior of the Naval Engineering School -VAR of the basement where detainees were kept and tortured -VAR of displays of black and white photos of victims -VAR inside the Centre for Historical Memory that the building now houses, with displays of photographs of the victims SOUNDBITE 1 (BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA, 14 MARCH 2013, SOURCE: AFPTV) -exterior of the Naval Engineering School SEQUENCE 2: BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA, 28 NOVEMBER 2012 (SOURCE: AFPTV) -VAR of protesters hanging banners and photographs of those who died on the gates outside the courtroom, on the opening day of a trial for crimes against humanity during the dictatorship -Julio Fernandez Baraibar in his office SOUNDBITE 2 (BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA, 14 MARCH 2013, SOURCE: AFPTV) VATICAN CITY, VATICAN CITY, 15 MARCH 2013, SOURCE: AFPTV -VAR of Papal spokesman Federico Lombardi giving a press conference BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA, 28 NOVEMBER 2012 (SOURCE: AFPTV) -VAR of protesters hanging banners and photographs of those who died on the gates outside the courtroom, on the opening day of a trial for crimes against humanity during the dictatorship ROME, ITALY, 14 MARCH 2013, SOURCE: CTV **NO RESALE FOR NON EDITORIAL PURPOSES** -VAR Pope Francis visiting the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome