Vatican City, Feb 5, 2019 / 05:39 am
Nicolas Maduro wrote a letter to Pope Francis asking him to mediate in the political situation in Venezuela, Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin confirmed Monday.
After more than a dozen Western countries -- including the U.S. -- recognized the head of Venezuela's parliament, Juan Guaidò, as the interim president of Venezuela, the status of Venezuela's governance faces a profound split as Russia, China, Bolivia, Cuba, Iran, and others continue to support Maduro's presidency.
Responding to the legitimacy crisis, Maduro said in an television interview with an Italian station Feb. 4 that he had sent a letter to Rome asking the pope to "help us on the path of dialogue."
"The Pope knows that I am a practitioner of faith. I pray, a Christian of prayer and action. And with this spirit I asked for help," Maduro told Sky Tg24.