This was the Vatican's intervention in the dialogue in Venezuela in 2016

In recent years, Pope Francis has been criticized avoid condemning human rights violations in Venezuela. On Tuesday, while in the Caribbean country the population is demanding the release of dictator Nicolás Maduro's power, the pontiff badured that he was willing to play the role of mediator in the crisis, "on the condition that both parties – the opposition and Chavismo – want it."

In December 2016, the Vatican mediated dialogues between Chavez and the opposition. Cardinal Pietro Parolin He was the representative of the Holy See. However, the efforts have been nowhere. The plan has achieved its goal: save time and decompress the social and political tension that was experienced at that time.

After the negotiations, Francisco sent a letter to the government and the opposition stressing the importance of the dialogue between the parties. But the words of the holy father were not well received by the leadership of Chavez.

The letter, signed by Parolin, required the plan to comply with the agreements through the "Urgent implementation of measures to alleviate the severe food and drug supply crisis". Similarly, the Vatican asked the release of arrested opponents and stressed the need for an "electoral path".

The letter provoked Chavez's anger. Diosdado Cabello, today president of the National Constituent Assembly (ANC), said at that time that the Vatican would not "protect Venezuela" in the dialogue and considered a "lack of respect "from Parolin.

Mature, on the other hand, He accused the Holy See of being a "facilitator" who had devoted himself to "sabotaging" the dialogue.

The opposition, however, accepted requests made after the bargaining tables.

But the only thing that has was that Chavismo saved time and air breathe after months of heavy pressure. The regime has not at any time agreed to give in to the demands made in the dialogue. These same demands that Venezuelans have been making for years when they go down the street.

In April 2017, aboard the papal plane returning from Egypt to Rome, Francisco spoke of the failure of the negotiations of 2016. "The Holy See intervened at the request of four presidents who have served as facilitators. And the thing did not work. It was there. This did not succeed because the proposals were not accepted or diluted. They were a yes, but not no. "

The pontiff reiterated his willingness to play a mediating role in the crisis, but in "very clear conditions".

With regard to the former presidents mentioned by the Pope, he was José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero (Spain), Leonel Fernández (Dominican Republic), Martín Torrijos (Panama) and Ernesto Samper (Colombia).

While it is true that, on many occasions, Francisco has acknowledged his willingness to collaborate to find a peaceful solution to the Venezuelan crisis, the main criticism that he holds is that has never condemned the human rights violations committed by the Maduro regime.

From December 2016 to today, hundreds of Venezuelans were killed by the regime's security forces during the demonstrations against Maduro. The largest number – more than 150 – was recorded in 2017, when there was a wave of demonstrations at the national and international levels between March and August against the Chavist dictator.

Peaceful demonstrations were brutally suppressed.

During those two years, Maduro withdrew the powers of the National Assembly (AN), with a majority of opposition, and transferred them to the National Constituent Assembly (NCA), which provoked a popular reaction. This body, composed only of Chavists, called for elections in May 2018. As expected, the National Electoral Council (CNE) of the Chavez court declared Maduro winner, who took a new term on January 10. A large part of the international community, with the United States in the lead, has described this electoral process as "fraudulent", which is why it does not recognize Maduro as legitimate president, and yes, Juan Guaidó, President of the United States. National Assembly, who was sworn in as acting head of state before the "usurpation" that the dictator makes.

Guaidó and the main opposition leaders refused to sit down at a dialogue table with Chavismo so as not to be at the last opportunity: a lack of respect for the agreements and a regime less stifled by the pressure. The opposition was clear: this process is "no return". We will have to see what decision they will make after Francisco's words.