Can Pope Francis Perform a Miracle for Venezuela?

Given his virtuoso performance as a power broker who helped thaw a half-a-century-old conflict between Cuba and the U.S., the audience Pope Francis has granted Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro this coming Sunday has aroused hopes the Argentinian pope can instill a sense of normalcy to Venezuela's political life.  "Pope Francis would perform his first miracle if he can work out a meaningful dialogue between the government and the opposition," says Xabier Coscojuela, editor of the newspaper Tal Cual in Venezuela. I called him to find out what his expectations were for the upcoming audience. "Perhaps he could make Maduro set an official date for the parliamentary elections this year to keep up with the constitutional mandate. That," adds Coscojuela, "would be a great leap forward." More…