Pope concerned about abuse of power in Venezuela, says bishop

Caracas, Venezuela, May 1, 2007 / 10:40 am

The vice president of the Venezuelan Bishops’ Conference, Archbishop Roberto Luckert, said last Friday that during an audience with Pope Benedict XVI and a group of Venezuelan bishops, the Pontiff said he was concerned about the abuse of power in that country.

"During the meeting we told him about the problems we are having with education, the lack of security and the trampling of human rights in the country. The Holy Father listened to our comments and was concerned about the situation, which each day seems to be become more radical," the archbishop said in a telephone conversation with "The Truth."

Archbishop Luckert said the bishops expressed their concerns to the Pope because, in his judgment, "the policies of the national government are undoubtedly becoming more radical."

Regarding the law on education, he said, the bishops told the Holy Father it "aims to take religious education out of the classrooms."

According to Archbishop Luckert, the bishops present at the audience asked the Pope for his support, affection and prayer for Venezuela and its inhabitants. Likewise, he revealed, the members of the Bishops’ conference expressed their gratitude to Benedict XVI for the clear teachings he has conveyed in his pontifical teachings and they gave him an example of the documents approved by the Venezuelan bishops’ Plenary Council.