VATICAN CITY, March 13, 2013 (LifeSiteNews.com) – While Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio was Archbishop of Buenos Aires he defended the life of the unborn even in cases of rape, in very stark terms.

In a 2007 speech given to a gathering of priests and laity on October 2nd, then-Cardinal Bergoglio issued a defense of life even in cases of rape saying: “we aren’t in agreement with the death penalty,” but “in Argentina we have the death penalty.  A child conceived by the rape of a mentally ill or retarded woman can be condemned to death.”

Pro-life leaders in Argentina rejoiced at Cardinal Bergoglio’s elevation to the Pontificate.  Nicholas Lafferriere head of Argentina’s Center for Bioethics, Person and Family told LifeSiteNews.com “Those of us who work for life and family in Argentina have always felt ourselves to be supported and promoted by Cardinal Bergoglio.”

“On the one hand, he has promoted the dignity of each woman and especially of women during pregnancy,” he added.

In his archdiocese, Cardinal Bergoglio promoted a special blessing for mothers and their unborn children.

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