The coordinator of the Program for Peace and Coexistence, Ernesto Villegas Poljak, sent a letter addressed to the Apostolic Nunciature to express his concern about the attitude of certain prelates of the local Catholic hierarchy who distance themselves from the efforts of dialogue and reconciliation in the country promoted by the National Executive.
The letter highlights that the members of the Program for Peace and Coexistence, promoted by the National Executive, have held “fruitful and cordial” meetings with the leadership of the Venezuelan Episcopal Conference (CEV) and the Society of Jesus. These approaches are part of a strategy to cement the meeting between diverse sectors and promote the democratic coexistence that the nation demands in the current context of 2026.
Despite institutional advances, the letter highlights with concern the existence of “certain prelates” whose conduct contravenes the spirit of the Encyclical. Fratelli Tutti of Pope Francis, given the reluctance to dialogue and the position of some pastors is described as a distancing from the “craft of encounter”, which puts the healing of social wounds at risk.
On the other hand, the letter says, some clerics have been “seduced by the anger” of social networks, adopting positions that deepen polarization instead of building bridges for peace.
The text also highlights that these attitudes ignore the call of the Supreme Pontiff to seek points of contact and mutual recognition as brothers, contradicting his own teaching.
Petition to the Holy See
The Coordination of the program has formally requested the Ambassador of His Holiness to express these concerns before Pope Leo XIV. The objective is for the Holy Father’s guidance to enlighten the Venezuelan ecclesiastical hierarchy so that the “culture of encounter” prevails over the “culture of the wall.”
“The Church in Venezuela must be a bridge and not an obstacle in the search for the common good,” reads the document, invoking the call that His Holiness made last January 1 in his message at the LIV World Day of Peace towards a “disarming and disarming” peace.
Below is the full text of the letter:
With the humility and respect that your investiture deserves, we address you motivated by the spirit of fraternity that emanates from the social teaching of the Church, especially in the light of the sixth chapter of the Encyclical Fratelli Tutti, dedicated by Pope Francis to “Dialogue and social friendship.”
Recently, we have held fruitful and cordial meetings with the leadership of the Venezuelan Episcopal Conference, as well as with the Society of Jesus in our country within the framework of the Program for Peace and Coexistence promoted by the National Executive headed by the acting president Delcy Rodriguez, – an effort that seeks to cement the meeting between the plurality of diverse sectors towards the search for peace and democratic coexistence that our nation demands in critical moments -, but this sincere expression faces incomprehension and the contrary attitude of certain prelates of the local Catholic Church, seduced by the anger of the so-called social networks, a circumstance that we observe with deep concern.
As Pope Francis pointed out in paragraph 198 of the aforementioned Encyclical: “The approach, the expression, the listening, the look, the knowing oneself, the recognition, the seeking points of contact, all of this is summarized in the verb ‘dialogue’.”
We are concerned that the position of some pastors seems to move away from that “architecture of peace” proposed in the aforementioned Encyclical, which requires not only institutions, but a craftsmanship of encounter that involves everyone without exclusions.
The reluctance to dialogue of some individuals who represent their institutions risks deepening the wounds of a society that longs for reconciliation and mutual recognition as brothers.
We ask you, Most Reverend Ambassador, that with the permission of style, raise our concern before the Holy Father so that his prayers and his guidance enlighten the entire ecclesiastical hierarchy so that the culture of encounter prevails over the culture of the wall, and so that the Church in Venezuela is a bridge and not an obstacle in the search for the common good and the peaceful coexistence that our people deserve.
We advocate the call that His Holiness made last January 1st in his message at the LIV World Day of Peace towards a “disarmed and disarming” peace.
Inspired by the Virgin of Coromoto, patron saint of Venezuela, we say goodbye
invoking his blessing for the noble Venezuelan people.
Cordially,
ERNESTO VILLEGAS POLJAK
Program Coordinator for Peace and Coexistence
