Wanderer wrote:
He's fully entitled to his views on the islands, whatever they are ... but beyond that it's nothing to do with him i.e. his position doesn't change a thing.
Papal influence down the ages has waned from what it used to be by a very large degree. I did A level History years ago and the European history taught was dominated by the conflicts between the Papacy and European rulers such as Otto 1 of the Holy Roman Empire.
When you learn a bit of history from this time it soon becomes apparent the position of the Pope was more of a ruler than any kind of prophet.
These days while he doesn't rule in that sense it doesn't mean the Pope doesn't have any influence. You just watch if he says anything on the Falklands now how much it gets reported or is used as propaganda.