Fr. Alfredo Infante, SJ, is the Provincial of the Jesuits in Venezuela. Photo: CJI

(This interview preceded the July 28, 2024 elections in Venezuela.)

Canadian Jesuits International (CJI) sat down with Fr. Alfredo Infante, SJ, Provincial of the Jesuits in Venezuela, to discuss the country's deep socio-economic and political crisis and the role of the Jesuits in this context. Prior to his appointment as provincial, Fr. Infante served as a coordinator at Centro Gumilla, a Jesuit-run research and social action centre in Venezuela. He was rector of the Pedro Arrupe Theologate from 1999 to 2005, director of the Jesuit Refugee Service for Latin America and the Caribbean from 2005 to 2011, and superior of the Ignacio Ellacuria Philosophate from 2011 to 2015. He lives in a suburban neighbourhood in Caracas, where he served as parish priest from 2015 to 2023.

What is the current situation in Venezuela?

The main issues in Venezuela today are poverty and inequality, which have increased sharply in the last 25 years. Venezuela is one of the most unequal countries in the continent. It is not a democracy. We have an autocratic system. There has been an economic collapse due to the policies of the state and the international sanctions imposed against it. We have a complex humanitarian emergency. In other countries this happens because of a war or a natural disaster. We are not at war, but the political and economic crisis has generated a systemic human rights crisis that makes survival almost impossible. About eight million Venezuelans have left the country, most of them in their productive years. The educational system is broken. There is family fracture because of forced migration. Another big challenge is hunger.  There's a lot of discontent in the population, and with the elections on July 28, many are hoping for change. But the government is in control. There is no guarantee that the results will be accurate.

What does the Jesuit call to live a "faith that does justice" mean in Venezuela today?

The province has a broad response to social justice, from platforms like Fe y Alegria in education, which offers quality education to the most marginalized, to dialogue and negotiations with social and political actors. We try to have a coordinated response to challenges and look for alternative ways to democratize the country.

Despite the danger, many migrants continue to risk their lives at the Darien Gap in hopes of reaching North America. What could be done differently to address this issue? 

Migration today is a consequence of something more complex than what we have seen in the past. Human displacement is caused by a human rights crisis, an economic crisis, a political crisis, an ecological crisis, all of which are interrelated.  This moment calls for a new paradigm of response from society, from the church and from politicians. The best way to respond is for all the actors involved to come up with solutions. The Jesuits are building bridges among different actors, which could be the first step.

What role can ordinary citizens and the church play in addressing so many pressing global issues today?

The first thing to understand is that we need each other, that the answer is not in our own hands, but that it lies in searching for it together with others. Together we can discover the path to reconciliation, peace and social justice. The world is full of war, fundamentalism, polarization, injustice, and inequality. But we are at an opportune moment. We have reached an awareness that although the encounter with others who are different from us generates uncertainty, we must build the path together.

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