Latin American countries, like other nations, have their positive and negative points.

I am not a politician, I am a simple priest, but since Paul VI taught us that “politics is the best form of charity”, and as a result of the fact that I have been living for three decades plus, in a Third World country, where the concept of ‘savage capi­talism’ was coined by the Latin American Church, I try to follow politics as best as I can.

I am of the opinion, for example, that If Tony Blair did not back President George W. Bush in the Iraqi War, we would today have a safer Middle East and world. The internal contradictions of a country, whichever country, never justifies a violent external intervention.

I believe that Donald Trump’s decision to back Juan Guaidó, the self-proclaimed Presi­dent of Venezuela, is meant to create civil war. Nothing can justify such a situation.

It seems that some European leaders, who are supporting Mr Trump’s position, have learnt nothing from the wars their countries suffered. They still enjoy engaging in wars in other countries instead of promoting dialogue and peaceful solutions.

I would have thought the Europeans would remind Mr Trump of President Roosevelt’s saying: “I have seen war... I hate war!”

Europe, hands off Venezuela, for heaven’s sake!

Pope Paul VI chides you by saying: “War no more!”

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