Chavez to meet Pope at the Vatican
Pope Benedict XVI was today scheduled to meet with Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez for talks expected to focus on the issue of poverty and how to improve relations.
“First of all, I will ask for his blessing. Then, I will talk about world poverty,” Chavez was quoted as saying in Italian newspapers Corriere della Sera and Repubblica.
The church has been one of the most critical voices against the leftist leader, who has in turn called the church leadership a “tumour”.
Some Catholic leaders have expressed concern the president may be accumulating too much power.
More than 90% of Venezuela’s population is Roman Catholic, and church leaders and local priests wield tremendous influence over many of its citizens.
Chavez, who is on a visit to Europe and North Africa, arrived in Italy yesterday and met with the Communist speaker of Italy’s lower house of parliament, Fausto Bertinotti.
The Venezuelan leader’s next stops are Vienna, Austria, for a summit of Latin American and European leaders, then Britain, Libya and Algeria.
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