"The Pope always asks through prayer and dialogue, but unfortunately the government of Venezuela pretends to agree with what the Pope says, but what is really happening in Venezuela (is) completely different," Pereira said, explaining that the government is able to keep up the façade because they control the media.
"People don't know because the media is closed, and they don't publish. What is published is that yes, they want dialogue to be done, but what is happening, is not (dialogue)," he said.
Giving an example, Dos Santos said that Cardinal Jorge Liberato Urosa Savino of Caracas was once beaten inside the basilica of Santa Teresa for suggesting that opposition and government forces come to an understanding.
The cardinal had been celebrating Mass for the feast of the Nazareno de San Pablo, one of the biggest devotions in Venezuela, and simply said he hoped "there would be an understanding between people of the opposition and the government," Dos Santos said.
After Mass, a group of people came to into the sacristy and "they hit him inside the basilica and he had to be escorted out."
Media don't report on this type of incident, Dos Santos said, and so the only way people find out about it is through social networks such as Twitter, Facebook and Instagram, "because the people are the ones using social communication."
What he wants to ask Our Lady of Fatima, then, is "for freedom and the peace of Venezuela," and that she would inspire "the governments of the countries that do not intervene" to help.
He said that should he get the opportunity, he would ask Pope Francis "to intercede as an authority, as an important figure, and to mediate, at least for now, a channel for medicine and food."
"This is why we wanted to come early and be first in line, so that form the altar he can understand the message," he said, pointing to his flag, which isn't merely a banner for Venezuela, but "it's a message from an entire country that cries out for freedom."
Pope Francis recently sent a message to the country's bishops, urging them to continue promoting a culture of encounter.
"Dear brothers, I wish to encourage you to not allow the beloved children of Venezuela to allow themselves to be overcome by distrust or despair since these are evils that sink into the hearts of people when they do not see future prospects," he said in a May 5 letter.
(Story continues below)
Subscribe to our daily newsletter
"I am persuaded that Venezuela's serious problems can be solved if there is the desire to establish bridges, to dialogue seriously and to comply with the agreements that were reached."
Elise Harris was senior Rome correspondent for CNA from 2012 to 2018.