Caracas, Venezuela, May 3, 2013 / 11:01 am
Cardinal Jorge Urosa Savino of Caracas exhorted Venezuelans to listen to the call of Pope Francis to end the violence that has swept the country after the April 14 elections.
Stressing the "need for dialogue and respect" to overcome violence, including verbal attacks and threats launched between the administration of Nicolas Maduro, who was recently elected president, and opposition candidate Henrique Capriles.
"I am concerned that we Venezuelans are facing a political crisis," Cardinal Urosa said. He recalled that the bishops issued a statement on April 17 insisting on "the need for mutual recognition by both parties, so that there can be a solution, an agreement, a peaceful and democratic outcome to the current crisis."
In an April 28 interview with journalist Carlos Croes of Televen, Cardinal Urosa also said any sentiments of anger and annoyance should be set aside and the rhetoric should be toned down, "because that is only way to have a conversation."