“Dramatic news on the worsening of the situation in Venezuela keeps coming in with numerous deaths, injuries and prisoners,” said Pope Francis before a crowd of 70,000 in Saint Peter’s Square.
“United in sorrow with the families of the victims… I issue a sincere appeal to the government and all sectors of Venezuelan society to avoid all forms of violence henceforward,” the pontiff continued.
Venezuela suffers from one of the world’s highest rates of inflation — forecast by the IMF to come in at 720 percent this year.
“Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro welcomed an offer by Pope Francis for Vatican mediation in the crisis-torn country.
The pope’s call for a “negotiated solution” came in response to waves of protests by Venezuelans demanding new elections to pull the country out of a downward spiral. At least 28 people have died in protests since they began in April, and hundreds have been arrested.
Urging respect for human rights, Pope Francis said the Vatican was willing to act as a mediator under “clear conditions.”
Madero charged that the protests were an attempt to plunge the country into chaos, take over power and “impose a counter revolution on Venezuela.”
Eight Latin American governments — Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Peru, Paraguay and Uruguay — backed the pontiff’s proposal in a joint statement released Sunday by the Brazilian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
“All the world wondered…” Revelation 13:3.