Venezuela's crisis prompts letter from Pope to President Maduro
May 03, 2016
Pope Francis has written a private letter to Venezuela’s President Nicholas Maduro about the economic and political crisis in that country.
Father Federico Lombardi, the director of the Vatican press office, confirmed that the Pope has written to Maduro, but declined to disclose the contents of the letter. “The Pope is following with great attention and participation the situation in Venezuela,” he said, reminding reporters that the Pontiff had mentioned the crisis in the South American country during his public audience on Easter Sunday.
Spiraling inflation, with an accompanying shortage of food and basic materials, has prompted widespread protests throughout Venezuela. There have also been frequent power failures, which in turn have given opportunities for looting.
Father Lombardi remarked that the Venezuelan bishops have frequently called attention to the gravity of the crisis, most recently in a statement on April 27, when they urged President Maduro to allow Church agencies to import food and medicines in light of unprecedented shortages.
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