MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

First-hand impressions from the Papal envoy to Venezuela

: Papal envoy to Venezuela Archbishop Claudio Maria Celli.

Situation very ugly politically, socially and economically. With no food or medicines, it is undeniable that the country is facing a very difficult situation and is very much militarized .

 Archbishop Claudio Maria Celli, Pope Francis' special envoy to Venezuela, said the failure of the political dialogue between the dictatorship of Nicolas Maduro and opposition could result in bloody events. “If dialogue between the Venezuelan government and the opposition fails, it will not be the Pope but the people of Venezuela who will lose, because the road could be covred in blood,” said Celli. “God help us,” prayed Celli after returning to Rome.

The prelate assessed the situation in Venezuela as follows: “There is no doubt it is is very ugly. Not only politically, but socially, economically... No food, no medicines.” That and the military unrest. “There are soldiers everywhere,” he explained. “The same night I arrived at the airport there was a police blockade near the nunciature which stopped us to see who we were. And the secretary of the nunciature driving the car said, 'But have you not seen the diplomatic plate?'” he grumbled.

The archbishop is due back in Venezuela next November 11.