Chile’s Poor Greet Pontiff, Stone Police : Some Slum Dwellers Share Pope’s Podium, Attack Government

Slum dwellers thronged to welcome Pope John Paul II today but stoned the police who escorted him. Some shared his podium to accuse Chile’s military regime of torture, murder and causing their poverty.

Before setting out for La Bandera shantytown, John Paul spent nearly 45 minutes with President Augusto Pinochet, who the pontiff has said runs a “dictatorial” government. Vatican sources described the meeting as courteous but would not reveal details.

Protesters smashed all the windows of two police buses that led the Pope on a crisp, brilliant autumn morning to the squalid slum whose 90,000 residents are plagued by drug addiction, prostitution and grinding poverty.

Helmeted riot police used their shields to push the crowds back. Witnesses reported seeing several people who appeared to be injured.

The scene was repeated when John Paul left and police fired tear gas into the stone-throwing crowds.

For reasons that were not clear, the local church erected a backdrop on the makeshift stage that depicted wooden shacks but hid the real ones.

Priests Chose Speakers

People chosen by Roman Catholic priests were brought to the Pope’s side and spoke out against the Pinochet government to a crowd of several hundred thousand.

University radio and television stations carried the denunciations, but government television cut the sound during that portion of John Paul’s appearance and substituted background music.

The pontiff nodded solemnly as Luisa Riveros, who is missing several front teeth, complained of “no money, terrible housing and having to get up at 5 in the morning to get a place in line at the (government) health clinic.”

“We want a dignified life but without dictatorship,” she said, and asked papal intercession for political prisoners, “including 14 facing the death penalty.”

John Paul embraced her.

Others spoke of torture, burning and killing by the government. People in the audience, some waving banners that said “Pope, they torture and kill here,” shouted “Bravo!” with each denunciation.

‘Spirit . . . Deeply Moved’

Television stations operated by the University of Chile and the Catholic University of Chile carried the scene live including sound.

“I have listened to you with much attention, and my spirit is deeply moved,” the Pope said. He urged the faithful to “use all means within your power to banish from your country all the causes of unjust poverty.”

He cautioned them, however, to “avoid the temptation to identify yourselves with political parties or positions” and said the church must “always maintain a clear ecclesiastical identity.”

The Pope’s audiences in the slum and at La Moneda presidential palace were a study in extremes. Pinochet supporters gathered outside the palace and applauded while military cadets stood at attention, smartly turned out in blue tunics and tasseled helmets of red and white.

Pinochet, in a blue business suit, greeted the white-robed pontiff with a handshake and a reserved smile.