Summary
Two Venezuelan cardinals and an emeritus archbishop, including Baltazar Porras Cardinal and Diego Padrón Cardinal, along with Ovidio Pérez Morales, an emeritus Archbishop of Coro, have called for a clear, unified, and firm voice from the Church in Venezuela amid its political and institutional crisis. This call was made public on January 31 by these prelates ahead of the Venezuelan Episcopal Conference’s plenary assembly. The current situation is described as a “critical hour” marked by an uncertain political transition following the July 2024 presidential elections, characterized by social deterioration and weakening of the rule of law with restrictions on fundamental rights. The signatories emphasize three principles as non-negotiable: dignity of the human person, validity of the Constitution, and popular sovereignty. They have made three specific requests to authorities: immediate release of all political prisoners, an end to communicational hegemony by the State, and full restoration of freedom of communication. These demands come amid reports of arrests of political leaders, restrictions on freedom of expression, and increased pressure on media outlets and civil organizations since the presidential elections.
Key Topics
Venezuela, Cardinals, Episcopal Conference
