Pope meets victims of Chile regime

(ANSA) - Iquique, January 18 - Pope Francis on Thursday met two victims of the 1970s repressive Chilean regime of General Augusto Pinochet, at the Nuestra Senora de Lourdes shrine at Iquique. Francis greeted Hector Marin Rosset, whose brother was abducted and killed on September 28, 1973 in Iquique. "Pope Francis, I put my hopes of meeting our detained desaparecidos in your hands," Rosset told the pope.
    The pope also received a letter from the two victims.
    Rosset, the Vatican press office said, voiced his appreciation of the Chilean Catholic Church for "its great work in promoting and defending human rights".
    In the letter he gave Francis, Rosset said "I tell him about our struggle together with the relatives to meet our detained desaparecidos.
    "At the same time I ask him to appeal to the armed forces and government of Chile to collaborate in this humanitarian crusade which will enable us to have the spiritual peace we need so much.
    "The pope was receptive in listening to and receiving the letter".