Esther Ballestrino de Careaga was a pivotal actor in Argentina’s dark and violent past. She is perhaps best known for her work as a member of the Mothers of Plaza de Mayo. This organization came together to seek justice after the thousands who disappeared during Argentina’s “Dirty War.” Their commitment to transparency inspired fear in a regime that flourished through censorship and repression. Esther’s story resonates strongly with her daughter, Ana María Careaga. During her pregnancy, Ana María suffered through the terrors of detention and torture, exemplifying the personal as well as national tragedies that took place during this somber era.
Esther’s activism was sparked on April 30, 1977. She was soon joined by a dozen other mothers in Plaza de Mayo, each one desperately searching for answers about their missing children. That’s when the military regime began a brutal crackdown on dissent. Unfortunately, Esther fell prey and vanished in the month of December of that same year. Her body would be found in time, but decades would go by before she was identified from a mass grave on the beach that held so many others. Though years have passed, her legacy lives on through her family’s ongoing battle for justice and to ensure her remembrance.
Even now, Pope Francis, who had a deep personal relationship with Esther before his election to the papacy, is known to meditate on her influence. Long before he was ordained a priest, he began to meet with her. Then, later, as Archbishop of Buenos Aires, he testified on her behalf during the prosecution of those responsible for the Dirty War’s crimes against humanity. His recognition of Esther’s role emphasizes the need to keep these memories alive especially in times of political violence.
The Struggles of Ana María Careaga
Ana María Careaga’s ordeal is just one example of the terror that the military dictatorship sought to impose. Detained and tortured during her seventh month of pregnancy, she was released on September 30, 1977. Her mother had been murdered only months before, and tragically, she never got a chance to reunite with her.
Attached to Ana María’s memories of her mother there’s a current of outrage, interlaced with pride and sadness. She recalls Esther as “a very loving, hard-working, and committed person,” emphasizing the values passed down through generations. The trauma of disappearance deeply permeates the narrative of their family story. She goes on to say, “Absence creates that — it is the constant accompaniment of absence.”
In meetings with Pope Francis, Ana María has worked to ensure her mother’s story does not go forgotten. When my daughter went to see him last year, he urged her not to stop bearing witness. As she told us, this call to action rings especially true in the shadow of Argentina’s continued struggles for truth and justice.
The Role of Memory and Justice
For the Mothers of Plaza de Mayo and their compatriots, memory preservation is extremely important. Ana María emphasizes this necessity in light of current challenges facing Argentina: “We need to remember again.” This feeling is a reflection of Pope Francis’ call for remembrance as well, emphasizing that “memory must not be allowed to die.”
Esther’s legacy lives on not just through descendants, but through a national fight for justice. Ana María’s response is firm—“All that happened. 30,000 disappeared. The Mothers forged a civilizing pact in this country. Preserving memory is exactly why it’s so crucial.” This new social contract of “never again” is our promise to never allow such a tragedy to occur again.
The emotional heft of these tales is stunning, especially when Ana María sits down to explain what became of the people who vanished. They had been brought to a clandestine space for torture and extermination,” she recounts. She describes the unspeakable torture the victims experienced prior to being disposed of by way of “death flights.” Accounts like these are the all-too-rare reminders we need to understand the brutality inflicted upon millions of families during this time.
A Lasting Connection with Pope Francis
Pope Francis has always recognized Esther Ballestrino de Careaga’s contributions to the Argentine human rights movement. He remembers her as “a fearsome woman” who, along with many other civil rights heroes, fought for justice. His reflections on Esther underscore a personal bond that transcends decades: “I very much remember your mother,” he stated.
He has repeatedly said of the unfortunate events that resulted during this time that it “grieved my spirit.” His commitment to justice is evident in his prayers for those who continue to fight for their loved ones: “I’m glad you follow these footsteps of your mother… I pray for mothers… and all men and women of good will who wish to carry forward a project of justice.”
As Pope Francis reminds us too, it is through storytelling and remembrance that we begin to heal from trauma. His support energizes the currently invigorated efforts of survivors such as Ana María. They’re diligently seeking to address the evils of the past and creating a worthy and equitable future.
