Pope Francis urged Venezuela to 'seek the truth' following the controversial re-election of President Nicolas Maduro, cautioning against violence. The 87-year-old pontiff, acknowledging Venezuela's 'critical situation', made a heartfelt plea to all parties to pursue truth and moderation to prevent any form of violence.
Addressing the crowd in St. Peter's Square after his customary Angelus prayer, Francis encouraged the nation to resolve conflicts through dialogue, prioritizing the genuine welfare of the populace over partisan interests. His remarks were made precisely a week after the Venezuelan elections, which an increasing number of countries, including the United States and Argentina, believe were won by opposition candidate Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia.
Numerous nations, such as EU members France, Germany, Italy, and Spain, have demanded transparency and called for the release of detailed vote counts. Post-election protests have reportedly resulted in at least 11 civilian deaths, according to Venezuelan human rights organizations.
