In his new year’s message, Cardinal Jorge Urosa Savino of Caracas
lamented the serious shortage of food and medicine in Venezuela, which
he linked to “the socialist totalitarianism that gives the State total
control of the economy. Never before have we had to search for food in
the trash!”Joined by his auxiliary bishops, the prelate called for the release of political prisoners and the fostering of a culture of nonviolence.
He also prayed that “we Venezuelans might resolve our conflicts in a peaceful way.”
The South American nation of 30.9 million is 96% Catholic.