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Margarita (Agenzia Fides) - The members of the Voluntad Popular Party, accompanied by supporters and leaders of the Mesa de la Unidad Democrática (MUD) political group, met the Bishop of the Diocese of Margarita, His Exc. Mgr. Fernando José Castro Aguayo yesterday, November 3, who was given a document which denounced the intimidating attitude of the national government towards them.
The group was welcomed by the Bishop after a march left from Bolivar de La Asuncion square towards the Curia. Mgr. Castro Aguayo pointed out that the Church, with also its Vatican representatives, plays the role of facilitator of dialogue, but this is not well received or welcomed by all political sectors of the country. "It is a thorny path, but you have to cross it, because the life of each of you is worth a lot", said the Bishop to those present.
Juan Bautista Mata, regional leader of Voluntad Popular, thanked the Church and the Vatican, but recalled that the national government continues to verbally attack the group with political attacks: "The President of the Republic, Nicolas Maduro called us terrorists just because we think differently from them. But we are not terrorists. Therefore we deliver this document to our Bishop Fernando Castro Aguayo so that he can inform his superiors".
These days the envoy of the Holy Father, His Exc. Mgr. Claudio Maria Celli, is meeting the authorities to start dialogue and lower the tension prevailing in the country among various social and political groups. On October 30 an initial meeting to set a timetable was held, but the path looks long and hard. The Church, with its call to put an end to this situation of confrontation and clash between two sectors of the Venezuelan people, seems a reference point for permanent dialogue (see Fides 25/10/2016 and 27/10/2016). (CE) (Agenzia Fides, 04/11/2016)
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