Cardinal Baltazar Porras criticizes early Christmas announcement in Venezuela

Cardinal Baltazar Porras, Archbishop Emeritus of Caracas, has criticized the Venezuelan government's decision to advance Christmas celebrations to November 1. Porras described the move as a “senseless manipulation” intended to divert public attention from the country's ongoing socio-economic challenges.

According to the liturgical calendar, Porras noted that Christmas begins with the first Sunday of Advent, which falls on November 29 this year. He emphasized that the holiday should focus on service, solidarity, and peace rather than being used for “propagandistic intentions” or mere spectacle through decorations and lights.

Additionally, the Cardinal expressed concern regarding frequent electricity service restrictions across Venezuela. He highlighted that in many interior regions, power outages can last between six and twelve hours, contrasting these disruptions with the relatively more stable service in Caracas. He called for truthful information regarding the impact of these outages on the population's daily lives.