Vandalism on the Buenos Aires Metropolitan Cathedral lays bare
tensions surrounding the Catholic Church in Argentina during the
early 2000s. This period followed the country's devastating economic
crisis of 2001, which fuelled widespread discontent and distrust
toward established institutions, including the Church. Additionally,
public criticism of the Church’s role during the military
dictatorship (1976–1983) remained prominent, with growing calls for
accountability regarding its silence or alleged complicity in state
repression.
