Ignacio Velasco

Velasco was born on 17 January 1929 in Acarigua, Venezuela. He was ordained a priest on 17 December 1955.

On 23 October 1989, Pope John Paul II named him Apostolic Vicar of Puerto Ayacucho and titular bishop of Utimmira. He received his episcopal consecration on 27 January 1990. John Paul named him Archbishop of Caracas on 27 May 1994 and Velasco was installed there on 14 July.

He made Velasco a cardinal on 21 February 2001[1] and assigned him as Cardinal-Priest to the titular church of Santa Maria Domenica Mazzarello.

Velasco was known for his criticisms of Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez. In 2001 he appealed to the government to take attacks on Catholic churches more seriously.[2] After Chávez repeatedly attacked the Church, Velasco said: "Every day I turn another cheek. I have no cheeks left because every day there is a new insult."[3]

During the 2002 Venezuelan coup d'état attempt, Velasco attended the swearing in of Chávez' replacement, signed the Carmona Decree that disestablished the Chávez regime, and visited Chávez in exile in Orchila. Velasco later disassociated himself from the coup and his role remains unclear, combining an attempt to get Chávez to resign, an effort to protect Chávez' life, and doubts about the leadership of the short-lived coup.[4] His personal antagonistic relationship with Chávez divided the conservative Church hierarchy from clergy who supported the radical social programs of the Chávez government.[3]

Velasco died on 6 July 2003 after a long illness[5] and treatment in Spain for cancer.[3]

After Velasco's death, Chávez drew fire for his controversial statement that the Cardinal was "burning in hell".

• Catholic Hierarchy