Pope Benedict is sending top Secretariat of State diplomat, Monsignor Pietro Parolin, as apostolic nuncio to Venezuela, where President Hugo Chavez's government has been in conflict with the Church.Parolin, 54, had been the subsecretary of the section for relations with states in the Vatican's secretariat, Zenit reports.
Just last week, the Venezuelan National Assembly, where Chávez supporters are the majority, approved a new education law the bishops had opposed because it removes the possibility of religious education in schools.
The Venezuelan episcopal conference released a statement Aug. 6 lamenting the rapid approval - "from one day to the next" - of the bill. The bishops expressed their disapproval of the lack "of necessary consultation" and said the quick passage "attacks calm citizen participation and dialogue and blocks the search for the common good of society."
Similarly, the bishops' conference spoke out against a July 31 Chávez administration decision to close 34 radio stations that gave voice to the opposition.
Archbishop Parolin has built up a very good reputation as a diplomatic fixer, playing an important behind-the-scenes role in negotiating improved relations with a number of states, most notably China, Vietnam and Israel, the National Catholic Register says.
Vatican sources say he is being sent to Venezuela to help improve worsening relations between President Hugo Chavez and the Holy See. Msgr. Parolin will be consecrated as bishop by Pope Benedict XVI on Sept. 12, along with
Parolin has been replaced as deputy foreign minister by 42-year-old Msgr. Ettore Balestrero from Genoa.
As well as being assigned to important "dossiers" such as China, Vietnam and the Middle East, Msgr. Balestrero's task will be to oversee the work of the office of Relations with States and maintain contacts with ambassadors around the world, the National Catholic Register says.
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