2024-08-12 19:33:49
Pope Francis on Sunday called for a “search for the truth” after the disputed re-election of President Nicolas Maduro in Venezuela and urged the parties to avoid violence.
“I make a heartfelt appeal to all parties to seek the truth, to act with moderation, to avoid any form of violence, to resolve disputes through dialogue and to keep the true good of the population at heart and not partisan interests,” the 87-year-old pope told the crowd gathered in St. Peter’s Square after the Sunday Angelus prayer.
Following the elections on July 28, Venezuela’s National Electoral Council (CNE) gave Maduro a third term in office, a decision rejected by opposition candidate Edmundo González Urrutia, who denounced fraud and demanded the publication of voting records.
Several countries, including the United States, Argentina, Mexico, Brazil and Colombia, are questioning the results and calling for the release of the electoral records.
Protests in Venezuela that broke out on Monday against the official result left at least 11 dead, according to several human rights organizations.
