Venezuelan Cardinal Barred from Leaving Country — Passport Annulled at Airport
Officials informed him he was under a travel ban, confiscated his passport, and detained him for about two hours before sending him back to his residence. He was escorted even to go to the bathroom.
Authorities claimed “non-compliance with travel regulations” and required Cardinal Porras to sign a document confirming he could not travel.
The cardinal reported that when he attempted to photograph the document, he was threatened with arrest.
He also said an officer told him he appeared as “deceased” in the government system, which was used to justify the passport cancellation.
The incident follows growing tension between the Venezuelan government and the Church.
Weeks earlier, Cardinal Porras had described the situation in Venezuela as “morally unacceptable,” citing corruption, repression, and widespread poverty.
In October, he was also prevented from traveling within the country for ecclesiastical events.
Picture: Baltazar Enrique Porras Cardozo © wikipedia, CC BY-SA, #newsZvvxnoryws