The Vatican has publicly rejected accusations that Pope Francis collaborated with the military dictatorship headed by General Galtieri that ruled Argentina before he became a bishop, reports The Tablet.
In a prepared statement, the spokesman for the Vatican press office, Fr Federico Lombardi said today that the claims against the Pope, which date from the time that he was Provincial of the Jesuit order in Argentina in 1970s, were entirely false and defamatory.
Fr Lombardi said they referred to an episode recounted in a publication which he said was known to have an anti-clerical agenda. According to Fr Lombardi, the book claimed that the then-Fr Jorge Bergolio did nothing to protect two Jesuits who were kidnapped, interrogated and tortured by the military.
Fr Lombardi said there was no concrete evidence to support this claim. He said that Fr Bergoglio was interrogated once by the military but nothing was ever imputed against him. On the contrary, Fr Lombardi insisted that the future Pope did all he could to protect those who were being persecuted by the dictatorship.
The Tablet also reports that one of the two priests kidnapped when then-Fr Bergoglio was Jesuit provincial also says claims are false.
FULL COVERAGE
Vatican rejects claim that Bergoglio collaborated with junta (Tablet)
Vatican defends Pope from Dirty War accusation (SMH)