Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Caracas (Agenzia Fides) - In a Christmas message "Christmas of encounter, peace and hope” the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Venezuela thanks the people for “exemplary electoral day on 2 December…peaceful and happy behaviour of all citizens, patient waiting for long-coming results and respect for the results on the part of the authority”.
The Bishops say 2 December “marked a new page in our democracy”, which opened the challenge to “overcome polarisation and disputes, and to work together to concretise in Venezuela, ‘a democratic state and social rule of lay and justice”, which upholds the values of life, freedom, justice, equality, democracy, social responsibility, pre-eminence of human rights, morals and political pluralism, as sanctioned by the country's Constitution.
Taking advantage of the present political situation and the imminent Christmas festivities the Bishops urge the people to make “ concrete gestures of dialogue and reconciliation ”. “We are once again convinced - the message reads - that the only way forwards to a united Venezuela is honest and constructive dialogue, forgiveness and encounter; for our part we confirm our willingness to foster unity among all Venezuelans”.
The Bishops urge the Venezuelan people to reject a spreading anti-culture of insulting and humiliating adversaries. They express their solidarity with Archbishop of Caracas, Cardinal Jorge Urosa Savino, who suffered physical and verbal aggression on 7 December, "attacks which violated the fundamental rights of the person, considered sacred in our Constitution". The Bishops take the opportunity to thank Pope Benedict XVI for sending a message of solidarity to the Cardinal.
The Bishops conclude their message encouraging Venezuelans to “intensify personal and community prayer in the Christmas season”, and to pray for Venezuela 2008 “may be a year of encounter, work, justice and renewed efforts for peace”. (RG) (Agenzia Fides 19/12/2007; righe 28, parole 374)
