"It's not about vengeance," said Cardinal Baltazar Porras, archbishop emeritus of Caracas, while reflecting on Venezuela's future following the ousting of President Nicolás Maduro by a U.S. military operation on Jan. 3.
The prelate made his remarks during an interview with Venevisión on Sunday, April 5. Porras acknowledged that, although there is much debate surrounding the legality of Maduro's capture and whether it violated Venezuela's sovereignty — "the important thing is to look forward."
Vengeance always "causes greater division" within a society, because "everything done through violence, war, or death invariably leaves wounds," he emphasized, noting that the Church's primary task in Venezuela now is to help heal those wounds.
Porras urged people to seek shared solutions and to strive for that which unites. Otherwise, he said, "we'll get nowhere."
"We must learn to foster fraternity. We must learn to be brothers and sisters," he said. "Learning how to coexist, learning the meaning of friendship; I believe this can subsequently lead us toward other expressions of love."
Justice and forgiveness in a post-Maduro Venezuela
Since Maduro's arrest on Jan. 3, Venezuelan authorities have repeatedly characterized this as a time of forgiveness and reconciliation, the cardinal said. In February, Venezuelan lawmakers passed an amnesty law that has benefited thousands of political prisoners, according to various independent organizations.
Porras emphasized that the amnesty process "has proceeded very slowly," however, because those who pushed for the legislation and those charged with approving the prisoner releases are often the same people "who committed, condoned, or were complicit in" the abuses by the socialist regime.
The prelate lamented that there is no separation of powers in the country. Freedom, he continued, is not a gift but rather "a matter of justice."
He said recent events in the country have opened a window of opportunity for Venezuelans to "seek ... balance" in a society that, if it wishes to maintain hope for the future, must do so by "moving beyond a scale that tips in only one direction."
Fundamental freedoms in the country
Porras noted that freedom of expression must be restored in Venezuela, "because we're not slaves," nor are people obliged to simply "do what others tell us to do."
He said this is necessary so people can conduct their own analysis and exercise personal discernment. Today, many lack that ability simply because they don't have enough information — or because the information they receive is manipulated by various interests, he noted.
The cardinal also pointed out that all authority "finds its raison d'être in service to the people," and its ultimate mission must be to seek the common good. "It is undoubtedly necessary to have regulations that ensure those services, which are fundamental to the development of a society … to serve precisely that common good which enables us to have a better life," he stated.
A possible transition to democracy
When asked his thoughts about interim president Delcy Rodríguez, Porras recalled words once spoken to him by St. John Paul II: "Do not speak to those in power, for they do not listen. Speak to the people."
The cardinal explained that the country must move toward a transition while simultaneously creating the conditions necessary to hold truly free elections.
"To move toward having elections, the first prerequisite is that citizens be able to decide for themselves, rather than simply accept what is dictated by those currently in power," he said.
The archbishop emeritus also emphasized the urgent need to improve the country's economy, a goal that can only be achieved through real and effective policies that guarantee legal certainty for investors.
"We are the ... ones who have gotten ourselves into this deep ditch, and together, we must figure out how to climb out of it," he said.
The cardinal pointed out the necessity of having hope and joy in the process, emphasizing that Venezuelans will have to shed "sweat and tears" in order "to envision a better future. He prayed: "May the Lord and the Virgin bless the entire Venezuelan people."
This story was first published by ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.
