Priest clears Pope

Kidnap victim in Argentina clears Pope of accusations

Domenico Giani, head of the Vatican police, in glasses behind Pope Francis, looks on as the newly elected Pontiff greets people after celebrating Mass at St. Anne's Parish within the Vatican March 17. Pope Francis's style of breaking away from his security detail and diving toward the crowds means his protectors have had to do a quick rewrite of strategy, sometimes on the spot. CNS photo / Paul Haring.

Clarifying previous comments, a priest who was kidnapped during Argentina's dictatorship in the 1970s is emphasizing that Pope Francis was not responsible for his detainment. Catholic News Agency reports:

In a statement published on the official website of the Jesuit order in Germany, Father Francisco Jalics said that while he once believed his 1976 kidnapping was due to a denunciation by then-Father Bergoglio, he realized some 20 years ago that this belief was incorrect.

After the election of Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio to the papacy March 13, several media reports attempted to connect the new Pontiff to the Argentine dictatorship of Rafael Videla. At the time of the dictatorship, Father Bergoglio was provincial of the Jesuits in Argentina.

Father Jalics, who is now retired in Germany, issued a statement sending his best wishes to the new Pope and offering assurances that the two are on good terms.

For full story see The B.C. Catholic website.