Holy See studying possible Venezuela mediation

(Vatican Radio) Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Holy See’s Secretary of State, is “certainly willing and desirous to do whatever is possible for the good and serenity” of Venezuela. President Nicolas Maduro suggested Cardinal Parolin as an outside observer to oversee talks with the opposition in the country.

The Director of the Holy See Press Office, Father Federico Lombardi, SJ, told the press Cardinal Parolin, who once served as Apostolic Nuncio to Venezuela, “knows and loves” the country. He added the Holy See is studying the issue in order to understand what expectations there are for a possible intervention, and whether it could help bring about a “desired outcome.”

At least 32 people have died in weeks of protests in Venezuela.

In 1979, the Holy See successfully mediated a border dispute between Chile and Argentina, and helped to avert a war.