Argentina's 'Grandmothers' seek pope's assistance

[Judi Lynn]

Argentina's 'Grandmothers' seek pope's assistance
By Jorge Pina Associated Press
Posted: 04/26/2013 11:10:34 PM MDT
Updated: 04/26/2013 11:11:54 PM MDT

VATICAN CITY -- Members of the Argentine human rights group "Grandmothers of the Plaza de Mayo" asked Pope Francis on Wednesday for help finding still-missing children taken from political prisoners during the country's 1976-83 military dictatorship -- and said the pontiff told them they could count on him.

Estela de Carlotto, president of the group, met briefly with the Argentine pope after Francis' general audience in St. Peter's Square. She handed him a written request that he authorize the opening of archives from the Vatican and the Catholic Church in Argentina in hopes of finding clues about the whereabouts of the children.

The organization estimates that around 500 babies were taken from their mothers while they were detained by the military.

"Every detail can help to identify those who were taken from our families," the letter read.
"We ask that they help us, open the archive and investigate who was responsible in the church for the abduction of our grandchildren," de Carlotto told a news conference. She told reporters that Francis had told her: '"You can count on me. You can count on us.'"

More:
http://www.dailycamera.com/nation-world-news/ci_23119645/argentinas-grandmothers-seek-popes-assistance