Francisco wants to mediate in Venezuela – ElSol.com.ar – Diario de Mendoza, Argentina

Pope Francisco was ready to play the role of mediator in Venezuela, which is going through a serious political and economic crisis after Nicolás Maduro took his second term without international recognition and the opposition, Juan Guaidó, swears as president acting, wrapped up in the crowd.

The pontiff revealed his disposition during the flight back to the Vatican after his tour in the Arab Emirates. In his already traditional press conference in the plane, He spoke about the previous mediation attempt that ended without result.

"The Holy See was already present in Venezuela in the dialogue of the former Spanish Prime Minister José Luis Zapatero." It was during the first meetings, first with Bishop Tscherrig, then with Bishop Celli, he expanded. And that "it was just smoke". "Now I'm going to see the letter and we'll see what can be done, but the initial condition is that both parties want it. The condition is that they must desire before asking for facilitation, observation or mediation"

The letter to Francisco, according to Maduro (to Sky Italia): "I sent a letter to Pope Francis in Rome, telling him that I am serving the cause of Christ, I asked him to help us with a facilitation process, a positive response. "
Silence in the Vatican ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/WldhValqnt

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The letter that the Pope spoke about is a letter that Nicolás Maduro sent to him a few days ago. As revealed by the chavist, he stated in his letter that he was serving the cause of Christ. "And with that spirit I asked for help in a process of facilitation and strengthening of the dialogue"he only told the Venezuelan, without giving more details on the request.

"It's like when people go to see the priest because there's a problem between husband and wife: one goes … and the other party comes or goes." Do not want or want? Both parties are still needed. This is a condition that countries must take into account before requesting facilitation or the presence of a savior or mediation. Both sides, always, "insisted Francisco, according to the Vatican Insider.

"The mediation between Argentina and Chile was a courageous act on the part of John Paul II who avoided the war", recalled Francisco, evoking the crisis of the limits in the Beagle Channel of these countries in 1978 , but "there are small steps, the last is mediation", pointed out.

"These are small initial steps, facilitators to bring the parties together and for dialogue, this is done in a diplomatic way." The State Secretariat (Vatican) can explain all the steps it is taking, "Francisco Franz said.

"Before the trip," he continued, "I knew that Maduro's letter was accompanied by a diplomatic envelope: I have not read it yet and we will see what we can do"

The pontiff avoided demonstrating in favor of Maduro or Guaidó, saying that it would be an interference in the affairs of Venezuela, although he feared a "bloodbath" .

In fact, the mbadive protests against the regime began during his recent trip to Panama, where, in addition, live hundreds of thousands of Venezuelans who fled the regime. There he only stated that he was expecting "a just and peaceful solution" to the crisis.