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April 8th, 2013 
Peter Nolan
But Mr Benelli went on to say that Chilean bishops had assured him “that
stories alleging brutal reprisals in international media are unfounded”.
The conversation took place five weeks after army general Pinochet took power
in a coup that overthrew the socialist government of Salvador Allende, as
thousands of perceived leftist sympathisers were being imprisoned and killed.
The cables also showed the Vatican later realised the full extent of the
abuses being carried out but refused to criticise Pinochet’s regime openly
and continued with normal diplomatic relations.
One cable said Chilean cardinal Raul Silva came to Rome in November 1974 and
gave Paul VI “a rather pessimistic view of general Chilean situation,
holding that he had little faith in present leadership’s desire to restore
civil liberties.”
The cable quoted “reliable sources” saying Cardinal Silva reported “that
Pinochet usually blames excesses on other members of government who fail to
carry out his instructions urging greater moderation.”
“Cardinal and Vatican tend to believe that Pinochet is using this device
as a cynical tactic for drawing blame away from himself,” it said.
Edited at telegraph.co.uk by Sarah
Titterton
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