The pope’s “prime minister” says the Holy See tried to negotiate with the Venezuelan leader before his capture.<\/p>\n
Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin confirmed Saturday that the Holy See attempted to mediate to avert U.S. military intervention in Venezuela, which culminated Jan. 3 with the capture of Nicol\u00e1s Maduro.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe had tried precisely \u2014 as, among other things, has appeared in some newspapers \u2014 to find a solution that would avoid any bloodshed, trying perhaps to reach an agreement even with Maduro and with other figures in the regime, but this was not possible,\u201d Parolin told reporters on the afternoon of Saturday, Jan. 17, outside Rome\u2019s Domus Mariae church.<\/p>\n
Parolin had just celebrated Mass there for the public veneration \u2014 for the first time \u2014 of relics of St. Pier Giorgio Frassati.<\/p>\n
In remarks reported by, among others, the Italian daily Corriere della Sera, Parolin \u2014 who served as apostolic nuncio to Venezuela from 2009 to 2013 \u2014 said the Vatican has \u201calways supported a peaceful solution,\u201d adding: \u201cBut we, too, find ourselves faced with a fait accompli, a de facto situation.\u201d<\/p>\n
He described Venezuela\u2019s current moment as \u201ca situation of great uncertainty.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe hope it evolves toward stability, toward an economic recovery \u2014 because the economic situation is truly very, very precarious \u2014 and also toward the democratization of the country,\u201d the cardinal said.<\/p>\n
Parolin declined to provide further details about a Jan. 9 Washington Post report stating that the Holy See had attempted to help facilitate Maduro\u2019s departure from Venezuela by offering asylum in Russia.<\/p>\n
After that report was published, the Holy See Press Office confirmed that the conversation took place during the Christmas period, while adding that it considered it \u201cdisappointing that parts of a confidential conversation are published without accurately reflecting its content.\u201d<\/p>\n
Pope Leo XIV has referred to the Venezuelan crisis on several occasions, most recently Jan. 9 in his address to diplomats accredited to the Holy See, when he called for respect for the will of the Venezuelan people and for peaceful solutions free of \u201cpartisan interests.\u201d<\/p>\n
The pope also received Venezuelan opposition leader Mar\u00eda Corina Machado on Monday, Jan. 12 \u2014 three days before her meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump, whom ACI Prensa identified as a 2025 Nobel Peace Prize laureate. Speaking afterward at the Heritage Foundation in Washington, D.C., Machado said the Holy Father \u201cknows very well what is happening in Venezuela,\u201d adding that he is \u201cfully aware of what the Catholic Church is experiencing, due to the persecution and pressure on our bishops and priests.\u201d She also said the pope is \u201cnot only concerned, but is helping and actively supporting\u201d efforts toward a peaceful transition.<\/p>\n
Acest articol a fost publicat ini\u021bial de EWTN News.<\/p>\n