Crisis-Weary Venezuelans Put Faith in Virgin

Fri May 23, 2003 09:36 AM ET By Tomas Sarmiento

CARACAS, Venezuela (<a href=asia.reuters.com>Reuters) - When Venezuela's Catholic patroness the Virgin of Coromoto was paraded through Caracas this month, her statue was borne not on the shoulders of the faithful but in a bullet-proof vehicle.

In a nation where polarized politics have led to violence in the last 18 months, authorities laid on extra security for the annual event. Despite their fears, the procession proved to be one of the rare times when feuding followers and foes of President Hugo Chavez have been able to congregate peacefully.

Forgetting their political differences, hundreds of Catholics took to the streets of Caracas to follow the life-sized wooden statue image in a two-week procession through the capital organized by the church.

According to legend, the Coromoto Virgin takes her name from a Venezuelan Indian tribal chief in the 17th century who saw an apparition of the Virgin Mary in the central town of Guanare. The apparition prompted mass conversions to the Catholic faith among Indians during Spanish colonial rule.

Today, the statue is the most revered Catholic icon in this country of 24 million, about 90 percent of whom are Roman Catholic. She is also a national symbol.

The procession crossed the city's sprawling poor neighborhoods -- a stronghold of support for populist former paratrooper Chavez -- and wealthier eastern districts where the opposition holds sway.

In both areas, the prayers of the faithful were mostly calls for peace and reconciliation.

"(The Virgin) Mary is the only hope all of us have for peace," an elderly priest, Father Alfredo Leon, said as he limped behind the Coromoto Virgin statue, which was blessed by Pope John Paul II in a visit to Venezuela in 1996.

The worshipers who joined the procession carried banners bearing the virgin's portrait and pleas such as "Pray for us!" and "Mary, help us!" -- a far cry from the hate-filled slogans that have galvanized pro- and anti-Chavez political rallies.

TROOPS GUARD VIRGIN

The calls for divine help for Venezuela seem justified. The world's fifth-largest oil exporter is mired in a deep recession, while unemployment and inflation are climbing.

Political violence, including a coup against Chavez last year, has killed several dozen people and injured many more.

Tensions between supporters and opponents of the president are simmering as the opposition seeks a referendum on Chavez' rule that can be held after August. The country emerged in February from a grueling two-month strike staged by the opposition in an attempt to oust Chavez and force elections.

Fear of violence was palpable in the virgin procession. In other countries sacred images are often carried by willing worshipers, but the Venezuelan Church employed a white "Popemobile" used by the pontiff when he last visited.

Encased in bullet-proof glass, the statue of the virgin in red robe and gold crown surrounded by fresh flowers was escorted by National Guard troops with automatic rifles.

But, in spite of the security precautions, an atmosphere of joyful celebration accompanied the procession.

Aboard trucks piled high with loud speakers, priests urged the crowd to cheer the virgin. Leading the procession, a school band -- accompanied by mini-skirted cheerleaders -- played catchy pop tunes.

But in a nation where almost every aspect of life is tainted by politics, even divine favor can be disputed.

Chavez, whose energetic style of oratory has been compared to that of an evangelical preacher, often invokes Jesus Christ as his "commander in chief."

"God is with us!" he assures supporters, arguing his "revolution" for the poor is based on Christ's teaching.

But the leftist leader's foes also openly pray for help.

As the Coromoto Virgin's procession approached Altamira Square, a bastion of opposition support in east Caracas, a small group of women held up a banner that read: "Virgin of Coromoto, give your people freedom."