Although the war left Argentina and the United Kingdom still disputing the islands’ sovereignty, a UN resolution has called for a dialogue between the powers which will hopefully come to a settlement of the heated issue.
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In his official Twitter account, Gavin Phillip Short, a “serving member of the Legislative Assembly of the Falkland Islands” as his profile says, firmly questioned the picture that raised some eyebrows yesterday showing Francis with a sign that read “It is time for dialogue between Argentina and the United Kingdom over Malvinas”.
As reported by the BBC, the Pope received the sign from Gustavo Hoyo, the leader of a campaign that calls for the start of Falklands talks.
“It happened during a general audience when many believers present the pope with all sorts of objects, often to have a photograph taken”, said spokesman Ciro Benedettini.
Hoyo stated to a local newspaper he explained it’s contents when the Pope passed by.
“He could have chosen not to do it, but he did”.
“The Pope is not just any person; when he sees things that are not right, he intervenes”, the cabinet chief stressed pointing out the head of the Roman Catholic Church “has gone to Kosovo, regarding the situation in the Middle East, he talked about the need to create a Palestine State and, in what has to do with Cuba and the United States, he always pronounced himself in favor of dialogue”.
Several news agencies shot pictures of Francis holding the sign Wednesday after his general audience.
The Argentine campaigners didn’t have to fight their way through this crowd. But it also insists that the Pope didn’t know what was written on the placard, and is not endorsing the campaigners’ cause. He has not, although as archbishop of Buenos Aires, prior to his ascendancy to Pope in 2013, he adopted a pro-Argentine stance on the matter. Since turning into pope in 2013, nevertheless, Francis has avoided speaking concerning the dispute.
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Tensions between Britain and Argentina have remained high since British forces defeated Argentinian troops who invaded the Falklands in 1982. The islands’ 3,000 strong population, most of whom are native born Falklanders descended from British settlers, voted in a referendum on sovereignty in 2003.
