Venezuelan bishops share nation’s sufferings with Pope

Pope Francis met with the catholic bishop’s conference of Venezuela on Tuesday – the day of Our Lady of Coromoto, Patron saint of Venezuela. The bishops were in Rome for their Ad Limina visit and used the meeting to shed light on the harsh economic, social and political realities Venezuela is currently facing. Archbishop Luis Azuaje Ayala, President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Venezuela, and Archbishop of Maracaibo, spoke in a press conference later, saying that “The Pope did not simply listen to us, he expressed himself on the importance and value of the Church in Venezuela.” Amongst the victims of the crisis Venezuela has found itself in is, in fact, the Church. With priests and entire communities forming part of those who are fleeing the country. More…