(ANSA) - Vatican City, May 27 - Pope Francis on Friday
received Hebe Pastor de Bonafini, 87, the legendary co-founder
and president of the Mothers of Plaza de Mayo who have lobbied
ceaselessly for their children 'disappeared' by Argentina's
former military junta.
The private meeting lasted over an hour.
Afterwards, Bonafini said she and the pope had embraced in
what was a "very emotional" meeting.
She said they had not spoken of the 'desaparecidos' but of
Argentina's economic difficulties, especially increasing
poverty.
In the past, Francis had invited Bonafini several times but
she had always refused, since she had considered him a sort of
enemy in her staunch anti-Kirchnerism, and attacked him sharply
on several occasions.
But after his election as pope in March 2013 and a
reconsideration of the pastoral work he had done in the suburbs
of Buenos Aires, Bonafini reversed her stance and actively
sought a meeting with the pontiff.
Therefore, observers said, today's meeting smacked very much
of a reconciliation.
Pope receives Plaza de Mayo founder (2)
Meets Bonafini for over an hour