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The Spectacle Blog
During a visit to the Vatican today, Argentinian President Cristina Fernandez asked Pope Francis to make a public statement about the Falkland Islands.
Pope Francis, of course, is from Argentina and last year told veterans of the Falklands War “We come to pray for all who have fallen, sons of the Homeland who went out to defend their mother, the Homeland, and to reclaim what is theirs.”
However, The Falklands have never been Argentinian territory and 99.8% of its residents voted last week to remain a British territory. But as former Costa Rican Ambassador to the United States Jaime Daremblum has noted Fernandez has been escalating her rhetoric on the Falklands to distract from Argentina’s current fiscal mess.
The Pope would be wise to stay out of this but I wouldn’t be surprised if he were to accommodate Fernandez’s request. If he doesn’t reiterate his support for Argentina’s claim on The Falklands he may alienate his countrymen even if he risks offending Britons, Catholic or otherwise.
View all comments (17) | Leave a comment
More Blog Posts by Aaron Goldstein
http://spectator.org/blog/2013/03/18/will-pope-francis-intercede-in
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mike 3/505| 3.18.13 @ 2:44PM
Obama & Kirchner have the same philosophy. They both believe that it is right moral and proper to steal or have big government steal for you, what was never yours in the first place...In Obama's case, he has big government steal money from producers, in order to give it to mocchers. In Kirchner's case, she wants UN & Papal sanction to steal land that was never, ever Argentina's property.
Derek Leaberry| 3.18.13 @ 2:45PM
For Catholics, the Pope is infallible if talking about religious dogma or doctrine. Otherwise, he has no infallibility. Catholics need not mind Pope Francis' pronouncements on the Falkland's any more than Maradona's or Gionbili's.
Santiago| 3.18.13 @ 3:24PM
We're told that the new Pope has had a frosty relationship with Her Majesty Krissy, Queen of Argieland. If that's true then he already gets respect from me (as a non Catholic). If he's wise that won't change much.
PCC| 3.18.13 @ 3:54PM
"The pope would be wise to stay out of this...".
Yes, he would be. Yes, he is. Yes, he will.
Dimitry_Aleksandrovich| 3.18.13 @ 6:05PM
I doubt Pope Francis will make any public announcements regarding the Falklands unless the situation actually becomes a conflict. With that said the only reason for the UK to hold onto the "Maldives" (Falklands depending on who you're talking to) is the recent discovery of rich oil prospects. That is also the same reason why Argentina is willing to at least verbally confront the UK on the matter. A good compromise would be to allow the UK to hold onto the territory while at the same time giving Argentina rights over any natural resources and maybe including an agreement to sell a certain percentage of oil to the UK at below market prices.
mike 3/505| 3.18.13 @ 7:42PM
Why should Britain compromise one whit? The Falklands have never, ever, at any time been a possession of Argentina. If the Argentinians keep up with theis crap, the Brits should spank them again...with overt support from the US. Time to start putting "child" countries in their place. All countries are not equal. Argentina used to be an "adult" country. Socialism has taken it back to childhood.
Dimitry_Aleksandrovich| 3.18.13 @ 9:25PM
I was proposing a compromise but all your offering is Western Imperialism cloaked as British or American nationalism. Look at a map of the world or a globe. Look where England lies on the map and then look where Argentina lies on the map then look at the Maldives (Falkland Islands) and you tell me should the UK and other Western Energy firms be exploit the natural resources off Argentina's coast using 3000 British colonists as their reason for doing so when such actions can only be interpreted in Latin America as a continuation of European imperialism? Such actions are bound to stoke Argentinian nationalism (regardless of which side of the political spectrum those Argentinians fall on). The final question is, is it worth it? Are British citizens willing to pay the price of conflict with a modern, largely European, predominantly Roman Catholic country to maintain control over the Maldives where no more than 3000 British citizens live, or is it smarter to compromise? The United States and the UK shouldn't forget that if they come off to be throwing their weight around over the Falklands issue that they could well usher in the creation of a larger anti-US, anti-UK alliance in Latin America with Argentina and Venezuela, Bolivia, Ecuador and possibly even Brazil joining forces.
Bob K| 3.18.13 @ 10:31PM
Dimitry,
What are you talking about? The Maldives are off the Southwest coast of India.
Dimitry_Aleksandrovich| 3.18.13 @ 11:14PM
My mistake. Malvinas.
Bob K| 3.18.13 @ 10:40PM
And who would govern this compromise?
The United Nations?
Perhaps the UN would also be useful in negotiating similar compromises between Russia and the Ukraine also?
Dimitry_Aleksandrovich| 3.18.13 @ 11:22PM
It should be a bilateral compromise between the UK and Argentina. As for the Ukraine it is historically Russia, always has been and always will be. There are no Ukrainian Catholics (except for maybe some Polish Roman Catholics) they are simply Orthodox Christians who swore allegiance to the Pope under the Union of Brest in 1595 when the land was occupied by the Roman Catholic Polish-Lithuanian Empire.
Dai Alanye | 3.19.13 @ 7:30PM
The Ukraine always historically Russian? Sure, and a Russky invented the first practical airplane.
Someone has his history backwards. Russia started in the area of Kiev, thereby making Russia historically Ukrainian.
Or perhaps we should return Russia (and Ukraine) to the Scandinavians who formed the initial Kievan Rus state back in the 800s.
Dimitry_Aleksandrovich| 3.20.13 @ 1:31AM
That's pure semantics. Nearly half of the modern Ukraine speaks Russian as its first language and traditional Ukrainian culture and customs are nearly distinguishable from traditional Russian traditions and customs. The primary faith in the Ukraine is Orthodox Christianity as it is in Russia. There is no reason why Russia and the Ukraine should be two separate countries.
Dai Alanye | 3.19.13 @ 7:19PM
Three hundred miles--this should give us the Bahamas and Cuba according to the Argentine standard. But I propose a compromise where we agree to sell the Cuban government-in-exile low-priced sugar.
Bob K| 3.18.13 @ 6:53PM
How many Cruisers does the Vatican have?
mike 3/505| 3.18.13 @ 7:43PM
Argentina has one less than it used to. Heheheheheh
Cpm| 3.18.13 @ 11:42PM
In Vatican City, or in parishes worldwide?