The Argentine magazine Noticias in April 2008 reported that Princess Máxima of the Netherlands had contributed some 128,000 euros to Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio’s television channel.
The Palace
denied the Princess had done so, but journalist María Fernanda Villosio
vigorously defended her story which made the front page of Noticias. The story
resurfaced Wednesday with the announcement that Cardinal Bergoglio of Buenos
Aires had been elected Pope, taking the name of Francis.
Dutch newspapers reported on the story in 2008 but did not find any evidence. María Fernanda Villosio cited ‘reliable sources’ in the archdiocese. A contribution to the church would be frowned upon by President Cristina Kirchner she wrote, who had her differences with the Cardinal. For the same reason a contribution would be unlikely, sources in The Hague said, as it would cause quite a stir in the Netherlands too.
A catholic Argentina born princess in a protestant monarchy and a very liberal country donating a very substantional part of her state income to the conservative church in Argentina, would lead to questions in parliament and the public opinion. ‘Unthinkable’ a spokesman said, not wishing to be quoted by name. © RB
The author about the reliability of her story:
Mis fuentes son confiables. Escucharon directamente esta
información de miembros de la Iglesia, como está escrito en el artículo.
Pero el dato no se pudo confirmar oficialmente en la Iglesia que
mantiene un total hermetismo sobre el tema. Y menos aún en la Corona
holandesa. No tengo para agregar más de lo que está en el artículo.
Tampoco sé de dónde provienen los fondos ni el motivo de la donación.
Comments