AMERICA/VENEZUELA - Crisis with Colombia: "Governments have not done their best to solve the crisis", said Mgr. Padron

Caracas (Agenzia Fides) - "The people of Colombia and Venezuela are brothers and sisters, and peace and reconciliation are possible. People do not deserve violence, what is needed is forgiveness", said the Apostolic Nuncio in Caracas, Mgr. Aldo Giordano, referring to the crisis between Colombia and Venezuela (see Fides 03/09/2015). Mgr. Giordano expressed his hope on the occasion of the forum on Pope Francis' encyclical letter Laudato Si', organized by the Aristide Calvani Political Education Centre, held in Caracas, on September 15.

The President of the Venezuelan Episcopal Conference, His Exc. Mgr. Diego Rafael Padrón Sanchez, Archbishop of Cumana was among the speakers, who stressed the importance of promoting dialogue between Colombia and Venezuela at all levels. He insisted that all the Venezuelan Church is very concerned about the situation of the border, since in his view, "governments have not done their best to solve the crisis" (CE) (Agenzia Fides 17/09/2015)