A representative for Argentina’s Catholic bishops says church authorities are working to declassify their archives from the time of the country’s 1976-83 military dictatorship.
Episcopal Conference Secretary-General Carlos Malfa tells the official Telam news agency that the date of the release isn’t set.
Many senior clerics were close to the rulers at the time while some radical priests were persecuted and killed by them. Pope Francis was then head of the country’s Jesuits. He’s been criticized for not speaking out publicly, but credited with saving the lives of some victims.
Three people who were disappeared by the regime are scheduled to meet Francis on Wednesday, a day before the 40th anniversary of the military coup.
The U.S. also announced plans to declassify documents. President Barack Obama visits Argentina this week.