MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Malvinas war veteran plans to visit Falklands cemeteries with a message from Francis

Oscar Doria Fernández met the Pope on Wednesday

Pope Francis blessed crucifixes and rosaries which will be taken to the Argentine and British cemeteries in the Falkland Islands by an Argentine war veteran. The Pope during the blessings called for peace “among the peoples” of the world.

 Oscar Doria Fernández met the Pope on Wednesday during the traditional public audience in St Peter's square and asked for the blessings of the objects that he pledged to take to the Darwin cemetery where the Argentine combatants are buried and to San Carlos, where the remains of British soldiers rest.

“It was spectacular, and far beyond all my spiritual expectations”, said Doria on meeting Francis.

“The Pope called for peace among all peoples of the world, and kindly blessed the crucifixes and rosaries”, said Doria who revealed that many of the objects had been trusted to him by next of kin of Argentine soldiers buried in Darwin, Falklands.

Doria also gave the Pope a copy of a book he has written “Trip to the centre of war” where he describes his war experiences as a junior petty officer with the Argentine Air Force, which he said was “extremely humanist”. He donated the rights of the book to the Church for charity work.

The Malvinas war veteran lives in the Canary islands where he arrived 28 years ago following the war and fed up with the ill-treatment and lack of understanding towards the troops that returned from the Falklands. He currently runs a charity for handicapped children.

“Right now I'm planning my second chapter of my project: I would like to talk with whoever is responsible for the Church in the Islands. I would like to embrace him, a gift from the Pope, and show him the pictures of the meeting and carry the message of peace and dialogue”, indicated Doria.