Behind the scenes of the Vatican's actions regarding Venezuela and Maduro. Cardinal reveals
Cardinal Pietro Parolin, who served as apostolic nuncio to Venezuela from 2009 to 2013, spoke about the Vatican's actions on Saturday, immediately after Mass in Rome's Domus Mariae church.
What mediation attempts has the Vatican made?
What situation did Cardinal Parolin's conversations concern?
What were the Washington Post reports about?
Who met with the Pope about Venezuela?
Cardinal Parolin: we talked to the Maduro regime
The priest emphasized that the Holy See consistently supported a peaceful solution to the conflict. He noted, however, that the Vatican was faced with a fait accompli and had no influence on the final course of events.
In a conversation with journalists, Parolin explained that the Holy See tried to find a compromise even with representatives of the Maduro regime, but they did not bring the expected results. He added that the current time in Venezuela is a period of “great uncertainty.”
It was supposed to be a “soft landing” for Maduro
Cardinal Parolin declined to provide detailed information regarding the January 9 reporting by The Washington Post. According to this information, the Holy See allegedly tried to facilitate Nicolas Maduro's departure from the country by offering him asylum in Russia. After the article was published, the Holy See Press Office confirmed that the talks did indeed take place during the holiday season, but expressed disappointment that parts of the confidential conversation were released without accurately reflecting its content.
Victor Gaetan, a journalist and author of a book on the activities of Vatican diplomacy during the pontificate of Pope Francis, also commented on the cardinal's efforts. As he stated, quoted by “The American Magazine” – “Parolin tried to ensure a soft landing for Maduro because he has maintained excellent relations with Venezuela since he was nuncio there.”
The Pope meets the opposition
In recent weeks, Pope Leo XIV has repeatedly referred to the situation in Venezuela. During an audience with ambassadors from around the world on January 9, he asked for “respect for the will of the Venezuelan people and for the protection of the human and civil rights of all persons.” He spoke about the need to build a society based on justice, truth, freedom and fraternity so that Venezuela can recover from its long-standing, deep crisis.
On January 12, the Pope also met with the leader of the Venezuelan opposition, Maria Corina Machado. After the conversation, she said she had asked the Pope to help with the case of kidnapped and missing Venezuelans.
