Pope Benedict XVI praised efforts by the Venezuelan bishops to promote authentic Christian values, social harmony and the common good in their country."I appreciate your dedication to shedding the light of the Gospel on events of major importance affecting your country, with no aim other than to spread the most authentic Christian values, as well as to promote the quest for the common good, social harmony and stability," he said.
The pope made his remarks during a meeting June 8 with 42 bishops from Venezuela. It was the first group of Venezuelan bishops making their "ad limina" visits to Rome to report on the status of their dioceses.
Archbishop Ubaldo Santana Sequera of Maracaibo, president of the Venezuelan bishops' conference, told the pope that the church is often an object of "unjust and savage attacks" because of its promotion of human dignity and the family.
The archbishop criticized "the imposition of a new political project that is called 21st century socialism with a revolutionary stripe."
Without mentioning Venezuela's socialist President Hugo Chavez, the archbishop said this project has resulted in "far-reaching changes" and "polarized the country and divided it into opposing groups."
Chavez, who was first elected in 1998, has said he is leading Venezuela in a socialist revolution. He won a referendum early this year, which amended the constitution and extended his mandate until elections in 2012.
The Catholic Church has warned about an undue concentration of power in Chavez's hands as well as violations of human rights, soaring crime rates and social problems.
Chavez has called church leaders elitist and accused them of behaving more like politicians than religious leaders.
Archbishop Santana told the pope the bishops have never sought "advantages or privileges, only the glory of God, the good of the church and abundant life for our people."
The pope said Catholic laypersons are called to enlighten and influence the world in a way "that responds to the loving plan of God."
But in order to do so, the laity must be "mature" and adequately versed in Catholic social teaching, said the pope.
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Source (TSCC)
SV (ED)