Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez' government Friday guaranteed "absolute freedom" for the Catholic Church to conduct activities in the country, and praised the "reshaping" of relations with the Vatican.

Venezuelan Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs, Delcy Rodríguez, also announced that Chávez is to pay an official visit to the Holy See "in the next few months," EFE reported.

"The Pope (Benedict XVI) has asked for greater freedom (for the Catholic Church) to participate in social programs, and we find it very important. The government absolutely guarantees freedom" of action for the Catholic Church, Rodríguez told state TV channel Venezolana de Televisión.
 
Benedict XVI Thursday urged the Venezuelan government to make all possible steps so that the Catholic Church may "dispose, in a stable manner, of the indispensable space and the necessary means to accomplish its mission and its humanizing service."

The Pope made his request to Iván Rincón, the new Venezuelan Ambassador to the Vatican.

This meeting with the Pope "was very positive for better relations (...) We reached a mutual commitment to improve relations," Rincón said in a phone interview aired by Venezolana de Televisión.

"Our relation will now be honest, because not only will we have good diplomatic links but also concurrence concerning social programs and the joint State-Church fight against poverty," he added.