Venezuelan bishops call for transparency and decry human rights violations
The bishops of Venezuela recently concluded their 45th Extraordinary Plenary Assembly, during which they discussed issues of crucial importance to the country. Over three days, from 15 to 17 October 2024, they met to pray and reflect on the social, political and ecclesiastical situation in Venezuela.
In a statement called “The truth shall set you free” (John 8:31), the bishops issued a call to the National Electoral Council to publish details of the results of the elections held on the past 28 July, as requested by many others around the world. “The publication of the results is a necessary step to preserve the trust of the citizens in the voting system, and to recover the true meaning of politics. Only in this way can we move forward together towards a peaceful and democratic Venezuela,” says the statement.
The bishops also made a strongly worded denunciation of “the oppression of protesters, arbitrary arrests and human rights violations that took place after the elections”, while issuing a demand for the immediate release of all those who were detained, including minors.
Faced with the difficult situation the country is going through, the bishops feel called to listen to the cries of the people and to console them. In their message, they recommit to being close to all those who suffer, restating their mission to “accompany them through prayer, welcome, dialogue and services” provided by different Church structures in the country, and by promoting initiatives that contribute to a peaceful solution to conflicts.
The statement ends on a hopeful note, with the bishops inviting all to strengthen their faith in Christ and to support “the prayer initiatives which are being organised by different parties to ask for peace and stability in Venezuela”.
