As is known worldwide, the situation in Venezuela is dramatic. The European Union and its Member States do not recognize the Constituent Assembly of Venezuela. In a press release, the EU High Representative Federica Mogherini emphasized the lack of "effective representativeness and legitimacy" of the institution given the circumstances wherein the elections took place. Mogherini called for Nicolás Maduro's government to suspend the Constituent Assembly and to respect the attributions of the other Venezuelan institutions. The neighboring countries of Latin America have criticized the constituent process and, furthermore, some countries such as the United States, Colombia, Canada, Mexico, Panama and Peru have announced that they will apply sanctions.
In the midst of this real social crisis, Venezuela's General Prosecutor, Luisa Ortega Díaz, reported that 121 people have been killed and 1,958 others injured since April 1, when protests began against Maduro's government.
Some artists and politicians have forcefully called for the Pope to make a statement against these acts of violence and death in Venezuela, ignoring the fact that the Holy Father has done nothing but insistently asking to for all parties to "build bridges and dialogue seriously" in order to reach peace.
Young people are the hope of a country. This group of 14 young people who have made their request to enter and begin the formation process as Salesians are true signs of lives given to the needy and to God.
“It is true that our country is experiencing a difficult, conflicting and challenging moment for each of us,” writes a Salesian, “but this is not a veil of darkness that prevents us from seeing the wonders, such as the 14 future prenovices, that God works in every moment."
