Maduro writes pope for help in Venezuela crisis

04 Feb 2019; AFP: Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro says in an Italian TV interview that he has written to Pope Francis asking for help in fostering dialogue.

Maduro said in the interview with Sky TG24 that he hopes the letter is in route or has reached the Vatican.

In the interview conducted at a military base, Maduro describes himself as being “in the service of Christ’s cause and in this spirit” he has asked Francis to “facilitate and reinforce” dialogue with his “best effort, his willingness.”

Maduro added he was hoping for a “positive response.”

He appealed to Europe not to be “dragged along by the craziness” of President Donald Trump in raising the possibility of a foreign intervention.

Maduro had ignored several European nations’ call for new elections.