World Youth Day appeared, even for those of us who watched from afar, to be the Church at her best – joyous, united, drawing energy for evangelisation from the Cross of Christ, the sacraments and the company of the saints. No doubt vocations were born and strengthened there, as mine was in Manila 24 years ago, and has been the case for so many of my students over the years since. Herewith some observations on the week.
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Nearby Venezuela, embroiled in a crisis as it seeks to free itself from the murderous petro-communist regime of Nicolás Maduro, held the world’s attention. Pope Francis decided that the Holy See would, in effect, keep its counsel on Venezuela, hoping for the best but saying nothing. The Holy Father explained that he was “terrified of bloodshed” on the plane home. The leader of the national assembly, Juan Guaidó, declared Maduro illegitimate and therefore, according to the constitution, declared himself as interim president pending new elections. Guaidó chose Plaza Juan Pablo Segundo for the declaration, a deliberate homage to the pope of non-violent liberation. Guaidó has the backing of Venezuela’s Catholic bishops, and has been recognized by the United States, Canada, Brazil Argentina, Colombia, Peru, Ecuador, Paraguay, Chile, Costa Rica, Guatemala and Honduras. France, Germany, Spain and the United Kingdom demanded that Maduro call fresh elections within eight days, pledging to otherwise recognise the opposition leader as president. The European Union joined in that same ultimatum. Maduro has the support, critically, of the Cuban-backed military, which is keeping him in power. Internationally, he is backed by Russia, Iran and Turkey. The Holy See remains neutral, leaving it to the local bishops to stand in solidarity with the suffering people. Cardinal Seán O’Malley, one of the Holy Father’s closest advisers and on hand for WYD in Panama, publicly took a different line, expressing his desire that the Venezuelan military would back Guaidó. It was a year ago that Cardinal O’Malley publicly rebuked Pope Francis for his bungling on sexual abuse in Chile, which contributed to a volte-face on the part of the Pope. Will it work a second time?
