Archbishop of Caracas says Church will offer mediation for dialogue between opposition and government

Caracas, Venezuela, Mar 5, 2006 / 22:00 pm

Archbishop Jorge Urosa Savino of Caracas said last week the bishops of Venezuela would be willing to mediate a dialogue between opposition groups and the government of Hugo Chavez in order to ensure presidential elections scheduled for December 3 take place in climate of trust.

“The Church is going to make an effort to help this dialogue to happen.  The first thing we are doing is issuing this call to openness so that there might be true political peace in Venezuela,” said the archbishop, who has been named a cardinal by Pope Benedict XVI.

Archbishop Urosa said it was important that Venezuelans begin to trust again.  Therefore, he “insisted on the need for there to be political will on the part of the government in order to create these conditions.”

Opposition leaders said they sought the support of the bishops because of the Church’s credibility in the country.

Archbishop Urosa said he hoped the dialogue would help all Venezuelans to feel more united and that “the democratic channels are open for all.”