Vatican - Venezuela Bishops visit the Pope

09 June 2017
Photo: L'Osservatore Romano

(ANS - Vatican City) - "The Pope has the moral strength to speak to governments and peoples, and we trust that there is an international mission, help ... the Holy See can do much to shed light on our situation," said Msgr. Diego Padrón, President of the Venezuelan Bishops' Conference (CEV), at the end of the private hearing with Pope Francis, a meeting expressly requested by the CEV Presidency, which took place yesterday, June 8.

The Pope's meeting with the Venezuelan prelates - the Delegation included the President, two Vice Presidents, the Secretary and the Venezuelan Cardinals Jorge Urosa Savino and Baltazar Porras, respectively Archbishops of Caracas and Merida - lasted 30 minutes and was not followed by the usual press release of the Holy See.

The Pope - testified Msgr. Pedron, who met journalists yesterday - showed himself to be "very moved" in learning of "how people are suffering," and he renewed his support for the bishops, telling them to continue to accompany the people and to refer to the letter previously sent by the Vatican Secretary of State, Card Pietro Parolin who is familiar with the reality of Venezuela, having been Apostolic Nuncio to the country from 2009 to 2013.

In that letter, there were 4 points to resolving the current crisis for the government: the need for a humanitarian channel, acknowledgement of Parliament, the release of political prisoners and free elections.

The bishops, for their part, gave the Pope a list of the 66 victims of repression and new statistical data on the humanitarian crisis, but also stressed that the Episcopal Conference has no interest in "confronting the government" because the bishops "do not represent any one guideline, except the pastoral line"; instead, they have gone to the Pope and are fighting "to defend our people", fully aware that the situation is such that there is "a need for help, medicines, food, and the right to protest.”

After meeting with the Pope, Venezuelan bishops were received by Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin.

The Holy See closely follows the evolution of the situation in Venezuela: in 2016 it was a facilitator, with the Union of Nations of South America, at the mediation table between government and opposition; and more recently, the Pope appealed to society and bishops to find peaceful solutions to the humanitarian crisis.

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