José Gregorio Hernández: Pope sends message to Venezuela

José Gregorio Hernández, a symbol of Venezuela 3:23

(CNN Spanish) -

Pope Francis sent a recorded message to Venezuela, on the eve of the beatification of Dr. José Gregorio Hernández and a day after the Vatican announced that the Secretary of State of the Holy See, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, He will not travel to Caracas to preside over the ceremony "due to force majeure, mainly associated with the covid-19 pandemic."

In his message, the pope regrets that the beatification of the Venezuelan doctor takes place "at such a particular and difficult time" for the country.

In addition, he said: "Like my brother bishops, I know well the situation they suffer and I am aware that their prolonged anguish has been aggravated by the terrible covid-19 pandemic that affects us all."

The Supreme Pontiff added that he accompanies Venezuelans in this celebration that he defined as "pandemic", that is, "a celebration with nothing for the pain of the pandemic" and said that the beatification is an invitation "to conversion towards greater solidarity , to produce among all the response of the common good so needed for the country to revive after the pandemic, with a spirit of reconciliation.

In his message of almost 13 minutes, Francisco called for unity, peace and prosperity in Venezuela, "so that in this way citizens can live with normality, productivity, democratic stability, security, justice and hope."

He also said that, among all, it is necessary to recover “that Venezuela in which everyone knows they fit, in which everyone can find a future.

That is why he entrusted “to the Lord that no outside intervention prevent them from walking this path of national unity.

How much I wish I could visit them, to at least signify my accompaniment on this path, "he said.

• Body of José Gregorio Hernández exhumed on the way to his beatification

This is how they prepare the beatification of José Gregorio Hernández 2:01

Beatification of José Gregorio Hernández

Dr. José Gregorio Hernández will be beatified on April 30, as announced in June by the Venezuelan Episcopal Conference.

The event will be at 10 am at the University Stadium of the Central University of Venezuela, the study center where he graduated and was a professor, also called "doctor of the poor."

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According to the Vatican, the girl Yaxury Solórzano Ortega received “an alleged miracle worked through the intercession” of Hernández, a recognition that placed Dr. Hernández one step away from sanctity. The miracle attributed to her would have happened in March 2017, when the girl was 10 years old and was shot in an attempted robbery in Guarico state. The medical prognosis was that it would be difficult for him to survive and that, if he did, he would lose faculties. After being operated, Yaxury was able to walk, see and speak after a cure for which Hernández is credited.

José Gregorio Hernández was born in 1864 in Isnotú, Trujillo state, in the Venezuelan Andes.

He was a scientist, philanthropist and teacher.

He was also a devout Catholic whom the faithful consider capable of curing diseases and who has believers throughout Latin America.

Hernández died tragically in June 1919 when he was run over by one of the few cars circulating at that time in the center of Caracas.

José Gregorio HernándezPapa Francisco