Estela de Carlotto Requests Vatican Support for Stolen Grandchildren Search
Human rights leader urges Pope Leo XIV to sustain efforts in locating dictatorship-era victims.
1Formal Appeal to Vatican
Estela de Carlotto, leader of the Grandmothers of Plaza de Mayo, formally requested Pope Leo XIV to support the ongoing search for children stolen during Argentina's military dictatorship. She delivered a letter during the pontiff's final outdoor mass at the Luján Basilica in Buenos Aires, seeking continued institutional commitment from the Catholic Church.
2Historical Context of Abductions
Founded in 1977, the organization seeks grandchildren born in captivity to mothers forcibly disappeared by the military regime. While 140 individuals have recovered their true identities, approximately 300 remain missing. The group emphasizes that this search is a societal imperative that persists regardless of the passage of time or aging leadership.
3Legacy of Pope Francis
De Carlotto’s letter highlights the previous cooperation of Pope Francis, who facilitated dialogue regarding the Church's role during the era of state-sponsored terrorism. The organization previously met with Francis multiple times to request access to Vatican archives, which they believe contain critical information regarding the fate of children taken during the dictatorship.
4Unresolved Case of Sonia Torres
The organization remains focused on the case of Sonia Torres, whose daughter was taken while pregnant. Although Pope Francis previously sent emissaries to interview a nun named Monserrat Tribó, the Grandmothers never received a report on the outcome. Recent findings suggest Tribó may have been living in Spain, complicating the search for answers.
5Demanding Transparency and Records
De Carlotto is now urging the Vatican to locate the emissaries who spoke with the nun or release any reports prepared during that investigation. The organization seeks to determine if Tribó is still alive or if documentation exists that could finally provide closure regarding the location of Torres’ grandson and other victims.
6Political Climate in Argentina
The appeal comes amid concerns regarding the current administration led by Javier Milei. De Carlotto explicitly stated that the government has been attacking the path toward Memory, Truth, and Justice. By involving the Pope, the organization hopes to reinforce the reconstruction of collective memory against current political pressures and state-level revisionism.
7Survivor Testimony in Córdoba
During his visit to Córdoba, Pope Leo XIV also met with Alba Camargo, a survivor and relative of dictatorship victims. She provided the pontiff with documentation, including a 2013 letter from the late Sonia Torres, further underscoring the urgency of finding remains and identifying stolen children before the remaining witnesses pass away.
8Moral Imperative for Justice
Citing the Gospel of John, De Carlotto framed the search as a pursuit of truth that sets people free. The organization trusts that the Pope’s mission will provide the necessary moral weight to achieve these goals. They aim to find the remaining grandchildren while the original generation of grandmothers is still active.