It's controversy on the meeting between the Pope and Chavez.
According to a Caracas opposition blog, during the Cuban segment of his trip to Latin America, the Pope may have given his blessing for a speedy recovery to the Venezuelan president.
"The five-minute meeting happened in the presence of Fidel and Raul Castro - claims journalist Nelson Bocaranda. The Pope gave a rosary he had blessed to Hugo Chavez, who is hospitalized in Havana for a cycle of radiotherapy."
That same evening (during a conference with Giulio Terzi held at the Italian embassy at the Holy See), the Vatican foreign minister Dominique Mamberti has claimed: "The Pope has not seen Chavez. It is an unfounded rumor."
The "Caudillo" had already declared that he did "not to want to interfere with the agenda of another head of state", but the uncertainty that has plagued Benedict XVI's Cuban trip remains.
Chavez is running for office again and has had a difficult relationship with the national Church.
A "face to face" would have destabilized the whole mission. This would explain the reticence/discretion.
"We were not asked for a meeting", guarantees the Vatican spokeperson, Fr. Federico Lombardi.