Pope Francis called on Thursday to "strongly defend" sovereignty in the South Atlantic, and also stressed the need to continue "working for peace" in that area of Argentine territory. His request was made during a private audience with the mayor of the Tierra del Fuego city of Río Grande, Martín Pérez.
In a statement, the Supreme Pontiff highlighted the fundamental role of the region in the "balance of the Common Home" and announced that "in the coming days he will receive the foreign ministers of Argentina and Chile on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the Treaty of Peace and Friendship between the two countries."
“When I said I was the Pope of the End of the World, I was inspired by an Argentine philosopher, Amelia Podetti. She taught me that things are better understood from the periphery than from the center,” said Pope Francis.
The meeting with the mayor of Tierra del Fuego took place in the Private Library of the Apostolic Palace of the Vatican, and during the meeting both " They addressed concerns about the militarization of the South Atlantic, the impact of global disputes in Antarctica and the need to preserve these territories as zones of peace."
Francis also expressed deep interest in the situation in Tierra del Fuego, highlighting its "strategic value" in the current context and stressing the importance of "building organized hope from local communities as a response to global challenges."
"When I said that I was the Pope of the End of the World, I did so inspired by an Argentine philosopher, Amelia Podetti. She taught me that things are better understood from the periphery than from the center," Pope Francis commented.
Finally, he stressed the need to work hard to make the South Atlantic a territory of peace and encouraged the people of Tierra del Fuego to "continue to defend sovereignty with great force."
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