Argentine Judge, 97, Says He “Will Not Give In”

BUENOS AIRES – A 97-year-old Supreme Court judge criticized by the government of Argentine President Cristina Fernandez for remaining on the bench despite his advanced age, said that he “will not give up,” in a letter sent to the country’s Catholic primate.

In the missive, the contents of which were published Tuesday by the daily La Nacion, Carlos Fayt told Cardinal Mario Poli that he “will continue fulfilling in the best way” his “earthly destiny.”

Poli, the successor to Jorge Bergoglio – who became Pope Francis – as archbishop of Buenos Aires, had sent the judge a message in May, the contents of which were made public last weekend, in which he said that the attacks against him “harm the constitutional order.”

The cardinal was referring to the government’s attempts to oust Fayt from his post on the grounds that he is not able to properly fulfill his court duties because of his age and health situation.

In his written response, dated June 5, Fayt thanked Poli and said that “work, in any of its forms, is the main way of acknowledging the dignity of people and age – specifically – is not harmful to that dignity.”

“Pope Francis asked us elderly people, from his heart, not to give up. Encouraged by the words of His Eminence and encouraged by an honorable life, I can say with pride: Here I am!” Fayt wrote.