Monsignor Roberto Luckert, Archbishop of Coro, northwestern Falcón state, on Wednesday called for reconciliation in Venezuela, on the occasion of Easter. He noted that this is a good time for the government to reflect about the situation facing people whom he described as persecuted and political prisoners.

"The Church has called and will continue to call for reconciliation until somebody hears. I think this is our role, our obligation and our duty, until both rulers and Venezuelans understand that the only language we have to use at this time is reconciliation and unity. "

In his view, Venezuelans should not continue to live in confrontation, as this further deteriorates political and social climate in Venezuela.

Monsignor Luckert described as political persecution the recent detention of Guillermo Zuloaga, the president of private TV channel Globovisión, and Oswaldo Álvarez Paz, a former governor of Zulia state and opposition leader.

"I think they (Zuloaga and Álvarez Paz) are certainly political prisoners. They are persecuted because they voiced their opinions. I believe this is a terrible political mistake of the government," he added.

"The central message of the Holy Week is reconciliation. The Lord Jesus came to die for all, for sinners, and to give salvation to all with his passion, death and resurrection."

In Luckert's view, Venezuelans have been faced with tension, violence and division for the last 11 years. "That is certainly not Christian. We are a Christian country, and I think it is time to call upon people -and here President Hugo Chávez should play a major role- to achieve reconciliation and peace."