Holy See–Venezuela relations

Relations under the Chávez and Maduro presidencies

There have been tensions with the Vatican under the presidency of Hugo Chávez, a president who while being Catholic is ideologically influenced by Karl Marx and Vladimir Lenin, political thinkers that have historically been opposed to the influence of the Roman Catholic Church. Chávez has also been known to cite proponents of liberation theology such as Leonardo Boff, whose ideas Rome had opposed in the 1980s and 1990s.

In 2009, pro-government colectivos tear-gassed the Holy See's envoy after Chávez accused the Roman Catholic Church of interfering with his government.

Relations between the Vatican and Nicolás Maduro, Chávez's successor, have also remained tense, with the Venezuelan leader sharply critiquing, among others, a letter sent by the Vatican to foreign businesses. While Cardinal Baltazar Enrique Porras Cardozo did raise the possibility in June 2021 that the Holy See mediate between the two sides in the Venezuelan political crisis, such mediation has not yet taken place, as of late 2023.

References

References

1. (2009-12-18). ""Der Kapitalismus ist der Weg ins Verderben"".
2. Wallis, Dan. (13 February 2014). "Venezuela violence puts focus on militant 'colectivo' groups".
3. (4 July 2011). "Wikileaks de Venezuela: chavistas Lina Ron y Valentín Santana, "terroristas" para Washington".
4. (2021-07-22). "Venezuela's Maduro calls Vatican letter a 'compendium of hatred'". Reuters.