Chavez prays, vows to speed socialist drive
By IAN JAMES
Associated Press
CARACAS, Venezuela -- Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez attended Mass on
Tuesday, joining friends and aides in praying for his recovery after
undergoing cancer surgery.
Chavez expressed confidence he will bounce back, promising supporters at
an earlier event that he plans to remain in the presidency and
accelerate his drive for socialism in Venezuela.
At the Mass held in Caracas' Military Academy, Chavez led a brief prayer
and then closed his eyes as he listened to a priest speak. The priest,
Mario Moronta, said he would administer the sacrament of anointing the
sick to Chavez.
"Often times, when one goes to a house where there is a sick person or
to a hospital, many people get scared because it used to be called
extreme unction, when there was nothing more to be done," the priest
said. But he added that the sacrament is now seen as being "for the sick
or elderly person to have strength... to beat the illness."
Moronta, who is a personal friend of Chavez, explained the sacrament
saying he would apply "the oil of strength" to the president.
"There is no need to be afraid. Six years ago they did it to me twice. I
was more there than here, and look where I am," Moronta said. "Sometimes
I myself have seen people who have stood up from their sick bed in a
moment of difficulty because it's celebrated with faith."
He made a cross in oil on Chavez's forehead. Visibly moved, the
president put his palms together and hugged the priest.
Chavez was once an altar boy but has clashed in recent year with some
Roman Catholic leaders in Venezuela, accusing them of lying about his
government. Nevertheless, he says he remains a Christian and believes
Jesus stood for principles similar to those of socialism.
Earlier in the day, Chavez assured supporters that he is doing better
after the June 20 surgery in Cuba and intends "to accompany you for many
years more."
"The opposition and the counterrevolution are crying out that Chavez is
done for, that he's dying... that he'll have to hand over, that the
transition is coming," Chavez said on state television, speaking in a
phone call to a ceremony at a state-run university.
"Well, I'm going to tell you, with the grace of God and the will that we
have, we're going to rise above all of this," Chavez added. "The only
transition that's under way and that we have to accelerate and
consolidate is the transition from the capitalist model ... to the
socialist model."
It was the latest in a series of appearances by Chavez, who a day
earlier was filmed doing stretching exercises with aides and military
officers.
"One, two, three," Chavez said, wearing a warm-up suit as he led the
group twisting side-to-side and swinging his arms in circles. Footage of
the exercise session was aired on state television shortly before
Tuesday's Mass.
Chavez, who is up for re-election in December 2012, has been actively
posting messages on Twitter and has appeared on television in the past
several days addressing troops and leading a Cabinet meeting.
Chavez has said he underwent surgery in Cuba to remove a cancerous tumor
from his pelvic region. Chavez hasn't said what type of cancer is involved.
Since his return to Caracas on July 4, the 56-year-old president has
slowed his normally heavy agenda and has limited the length of his
televised speeches, saying he is under strict orders from his doctors.
Still, Chavez's voice seemed strong as he launched into a song by
Venezuelan folk singer Ali Primera during his call on Tuesday. He
excused himself after about 15 minutes, saying it was time to have a
snack, followed by "physical rehabilitation and ... treatment."
Chavez told his audience at the tuition-free Bolivarian University that
his illness has made him more determined than ever.
"I promise you I will live, we will live and triumph," Chavez told the
students and professors, who responded with applause.
Chavez, a former army paratroop commander, said his rehabilitation
regime has required discipline, including waking up at 5 a.m.
That is a significant change for a president who used to speak regularly
late into the night while drinking cup after cup of coffee.
"I've become a cadet once again, and I see the sunrise," Chavez said. "I
had forgotten the sunrises. It had been a long time since I had seen a
sunrise."
----
Associated Press writer Patricia Rondon Espin contributed to this report.
http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/07/12/2311585/chavez-prays-vows-to-speed-socialist.html
No comments:
Post a Comment