A statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary has been returned to Argentina nearly four decades after invading troops carried it with them to the Falkland Islands.
Forces Bishop Paul Mason handed over the replica of Our Lady of Luján to Bishop Santiago Olivera of the Military Ordinariate of Argentina following a request from Argentine war veterans to give it back.
In return, the bishop was given another replica of Our Lady of Luján, Patroness of Argentina and of the Argentine army, by Bishop Olivera.
Pope Francis, the former Archbishop of Buenos Aires, oversaw the exchange and blessed both statues. He was visibly moved by a plaque honouring the war dead of Argentina presented to him during the ceremony after his general audience and appeared to wipe away tears.
