Vatican City, May 8, 2017 / 15:22 pm
In response to Venezuela's violent riots, inflated prices, and political mistrust, Pope Francis urged the country's bishops 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," Pope Francis said in a May 5 letter to the bishops.
"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."
Riots have spiked in Venezuela in recent years, resulting from unemployment, food and medicine shortages, and President Nicolás Maduro's authoritarian policies.