Ignacio Velasco, 74; Cardinal Joined Debate Over Venezuelan Politics
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Cardinal Ignacio Velasco, 74, who led Venezuela’s Roman Catholic Church through a stormy relationship with President Hugo Chavez, died early Monday in his Caracas home after a long illness.
Velasco was born in the western town of Acarigua. He was ordained in 1955 at age 25 and spent years working with indigenous communities in his country’s Amazon jungle.
Velasco often jumped into Venezuela’s bitter debate over Chavez’s leftist policies.
Soon after his appointment as cardinal, Velasco warned that Chavez risked losing the public’s support if he did not improve relations with the church in the predominantly Catholic country.
Hundreds of Venezuelans, including former President Luis Herrera Campins, paid their respects at Caracas Cathedral, where his casket was on view.
Late Monday, dozens of rock-throwing, apparently pro-government protesters tried to disrupt a wake for the cardinal in the cathedral.
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