In a leaked letter Cardinal Baltazar Porras, emeritus of Caracas, and Cardinal Diego Padrón, emeritus of Cumaná, assert the Church's "moral duty to support and sustain just initiatives against abuses".

In their letter addressed to the Venezuelan bishops, the cardinals emphasise that "principles cannot be negotiated".

Dated 31 July, the letter was published by Venezuelan media on Sunday. It denounces "evident fraud" in the 28 July presidential election, accusing Maduro of manipulating the results.

The opposition insists its candidate, Edmundo González, won the presidential election with 68% of the vote. It backed its claim with tally sheets from over 80% of voting stations.

The election has sparked widespread protests and met with severe government crackdowns. In the past week, 20 people have been killed and over 1,000 jailed.

International condemnation

Despite the election being internationally denounced as a manipulation, the Venezuelan government has not released comprehensive results.

The letter warned of the possibility of a "Nicaraguan-style government" in the future. Nonetheless, the Venezuelan cardinals said, the Church cannot be silent in the face of injustice.

"We are not, and we should not, be neutral" they said, speaking of a duty to "prophetically denounce the injustices, even if it's a risk, and proclaim our principles and values, pastorally being together with the people in solidarity.

"This is not an easy task but it is necessary" they continued.

The cardinals reject the idea of the Church participating in dialogue or mediation with the government if it means recognising the disputed election results. "This, for us, is inadmissible because it would mean ignoring the evident fraud" they stated.

Originally intended as a confidential communication, the letter was leaked to the press shortly after it was written. Cardinal Porras acknowledged the letter's authenticity but expressed disappointment over its public release, stressing it was meant to provide insight for future statements.

Porras added that the letter should now be a tool for peace, urging discernment and serenity amid the ongoing crisis.

A Vatican source confirmed that the cardinals acted independently, without consulting Pope Francis. Nonetheless, both cardinals are known to be close to the Pope. Francis has consistently supported the Venezuelan bishops during the crisis.

In his Sunday Angelus, Pope Francis urged all parties to seek truth, exercise restraint and resolve disputes through dialogue.

Sources

The Pillar

The Guardian

CathNews New Zealand

"Since the announcement of the fraudulent elections convened by a Constitutional Assembly, which was itself illegitimately elected, and in the absence of opposition candidates, we knew ... Maduro would be re-elected and that he would use any means to achieve this," Father Georges Engel says. Read more

The Vatican's call came after a fraudulent election gave Maduro the votes he needed to establish the assembly. The assembly has the power to rewrite the country's constitution and override all other government branches.

This will enable Maduro to govern through decrees.

"The Holy See asks all the political actors, and particularly the Government, to guarantee the full respect of human rights and fundamental freedoms, as well as the current Constitution," the Vatican statement says.

It also calls for "the avoidance or suspension of ongoing initiatives such as the new constitutional assembly that, more than favoring reconciliation and peace, promote a climate of tension and confrontation and mortgage the future."

On a broader front, the Vatican message says Pope Francis, who is praying for the country is asking "the faithful from around the world to pray fervently for this intention."

This is the first time the Holy See has openly challenged the constitutional assembly.

Normally, it would defer to the local Catholic hierarchy in local affairs. However, the Venezuelan bishops have already been openly against the assembly and have sought help.

Last Sunday, when elections were taking place, the Twitter account of the Venezuelan bishops' conference sent out a prayer asking the Virgin Mary to free the country from the "claws of communism and socialism."

The message which was signed by Cardinal Pietro Parolin, who is the Vatican's Secretariat of State closes with an "urgent call" to Venezuelan society to end the violence.

"... inviting, in particular, the security forces to abstain from excessive and disproportionate use of violence."

Source

• News.VA
• Crux
• Image: NBC News

"I promise my own prayers for this beloved nation and express my closeness to the families who have lost their children in the streets," Francis said.

"I appeal for an end to the violence and for a peaceful and democratic solution to the crisis."

Violence, inflation, rampant crime and chronic shortages of basic goods have been the hallmarks of Maduro and his predecessor Hugo Chavez's governments. Victim numbers of the post-March protests vary, with reports of between 80 and 100 dead and at least 1,000 injured. The protesters and opposition supporters are demanding elections.

A Vatican-sponsored dialogue last year failed to settle differences between the Bolivarian government and the opposition. (Venezuela's official name is the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela). The talks were abandoned in January.

The Venezuelan bishops travelled to the Vatican in early June to brief Francis on their concerns about Maduro's authoritarian regime. Francis promised them his support and said he had complete faith in them. He also told them he was being kept fully briefed of the Venezuelan situation.

Francis's support of the bishops makes nonsense of Maduro's claims he is ignoring them.

Source

• Vatican Radio
• Boston Globe
• Crux
• Wikipedia
• Image: Salon