His Excellency Archbishop Diego Rafael Padron Sanchez of Cumana and also the president of the Venezuelan Episcopal Conference, has opened the Plenary Assembly of the Venezuelan Episcopal Conference by asking the Catholics to resist the evil of injustice. His Grace Archbishop called for a reaction of internal rebellion as a sign of moral health against violence and falsehood amid the country’s ongoing socio-economic crisis.

As reported by vaticannews.com, Hi Excellency Archbishop Padron remarked that “We Venezuelans did not live in 2017, we suffered it. In recent months, the general malaise of the country has grown and spread ever more rapidly. Food and medicines are not only scarce but when they appear, they increase exorbitantly in price every day.” As a result of the desperate social situation, Archbishop Padron described Christmas as one of the “saddest” in the recent history of Venezuela.

His Excellency Archbishop Padron concluded his remarks by highlighting that the pastors were very concerned about the lives of the people in the country, not only for their health, nutrition, work and education but also their authentically Christian spiritual identity and consequent moral life.