(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis has directly appealed to all sides, following the Venezuelan
Presidential Election down to the wire result, for calm, common sense and understanding.
James Blears reports on the message, specifically aimed at stabilizing a volatile
ongoing situation.
An audit of Venezuela's oh so tight Presidential Election
result is underway, but officials are stressing that it won't change the result which
stands. With continuing tension and uncertainty, his Holiness message calls on
everyone to reject violence. He refers to the beloved Venezuela people, urging all
to establish a dialogue based on truth and mutual recognition. He also says it's his
hope that just and peaceful ways are found to overcome what he terms the serious difficulties
Venezuela is going through. Over the next month Venezuela's Electoral Council
will scrutinize 46 percent of the votes via an audit of twelve thousand ballot boxes.
Opposition leader Henrique Capriles who lost by 1.8 percent, insists that there are
more than three thousand voting irregularities. The closeness of the Election,
means that Venezuela is split almost exactly down the middle. Cool and calm is needed
and democracy must prevail.