MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

When John Paul II visited Punta Arenas

Magallanes Region and Punta Arenas particularly have been very moved by the death of Pope John Paul II, the leader of Catholicism who in 1978 prevented a war in south Chile, later in 1987 visited the region and looking even further south, called for conservation in Antarctica, recollects La Prensa Austral in an editorial this week.

John Paul II who during his countless travels all over the world "went out to look and stretch with the people" stepped on Magallanes soil April 4, 1987.

It was an occasion for the people of Magallanes to express their everlasting gratitude for his efforts in achieving peace between Argentina and Chile in 1978.

In effect a few months after becoming Pope, John Paul II was called to intervene and prevent what had become in late December 1978, an imminent war.

The long mediation process conducted by Cardinals Samore and Cassaroli successfully concluded in the Peace and Friendship Treaty of 1984 signed by both countries.

"Today's peace, which is enjoyed by both peoples, commits the gratitude of believers and non believers", underlines La Prensa Austral.

In 1987 the Pope with his peace message arrived in Magallanes inviting people to become "peace builders" and openly express solidarity.

It was then during one of the several events that looking south towards Antarctica John Paul II made an appeal for the protection and conservation of the environment.

"I would like to refer to a growing concern, in some way related to peace; peace of man with nature, with wilderness. As you know in not few regions of the world we are facing dangers and threats to ecology that not only cause very serious damage to the splendour of nature but also seriously affect man himself by attacking his vital balance and his future".

"Faced today with this problem of humanity, from the southern cone of the American continent and looking at the unlimited spaces of Antarctica, I call upon all those responsible of our planet to protect and conserve nature created by God; let us not allow our world to become an ever more degraded and degrading land; let us commit ourselves to conservation and perfection of nature for the glory of God and the well being of man. I pray that the spirit of solidarity ruling over Antarctic territories, in the framework of international law, will also in the future inspire man's initiatives in the sixth continent", said John Paul II.

La Prensa Austral ends the editorial highlighting the legacy of John Paul II for Patagonia: two brotherly peoples enjoying peace and intimately united.