"We do not choose the path of hell chosen by those who deny that in Venezuela people suffer from hunger and malnutrition. Our destiny as a nation is not in the hands of a man, a government or an empire, but in the hands of God. If anyone has to leave, it is he who is responsible for the corruption that condemns the sick to die for lack of assistance, doctors and medicines, those who are involved in trampling the dignity of Venezuelans."

"Without social communications there can be no democracy which is the system which teaches us how to be free, to communicate without restrictions and be able to express our opinions and criteria on matters regarding our country. We have no means of voicing our disagreement or revealing what is happening in Venezuela, which, according to the government, is a Disney country where everything is fine. According to government spokesmen, our country has no shortages, no unemployment, no insecurity. Where these things must be said, this is the job of the media, which must be the sensitive skin of society, communicating situations as they are, denouncing not just for the sake of reporting but in order to produce solutions."

"I remind you that it is not a personal award, it is to let everyone see the need to work for the understanding among all Venezuelans, overcoming all kinds of violence is the only way that will allow us a future of peace and harmony."

"The answer is to live to its fullest our faith in Jesus and to openly proclaim the supreme gift of God to humanity: grace and salvation through Jesus made man. The answer is to live our ecclesial life in Jesus more intensely, and openly proclaim the message of salvation, clearly and boldly, without disputes between churches and in the joy of our Catholic identity."

"I have been amazed to see the constant flow of pilgrims who come to show their devotion to Mary from all over the continent and this is a sort of mark of our people. This is for me an example and an encouragement for my own personal life of faith."

"One cannot speak about hope in a simplistic way. Instead, using lively faith as a starting point, embracing the Cross is necessary so that, from His Resurrection, He may be the Hope of a new world. This is the Bishop's challenge, the servant of the Gospel for the hope of the world."

"The communion to which we are called must have very concrete objectives. According to Jesus the only objective is mankind in general and in particular the afflicted, the marginalized and the needy. I think it is clear to all of us that it is not only a matter of asking for charity in material goods from rich countries. No, poverty and scarcity of different nature are present on the whole Continent. From a Christian standpoint, we all have something to give."

"We should definitely consider pastoral action aimed at holiness. The saints represent models of authentic conversion; people who, having actually experienced a living and personal encounter with Jesus Christ, are agents of communion open to the Cross in its double dimension, vertical and horizontal, so that there can be a real encounter with God by mankind and among men. If we want profound evangelization, we have to undertake the way to holiness."

"If the Venezuelan people fail to grasp the seriousness of the situation and fail to categorically speak out in favor of democracy and freedom, we will find ourselves subjected to a Marxist-style dictatorship."

"There must be a line, an order, to intimidate the church, to lower its discourse, to be silent. The government's retaliation against the declarations of the Conference is intimidation. We locate the root of such a tough crisis in the application of a failed political system they called 21st century socialism."

"They see us as an enemy. They accuse us of being ideological, but all we do is to describe the situation of Venezuela as it is. We don't invent. We only report what is happening. Such a dramatic situation hadn’t occurred in years: we are without food and without medicine. To put it loud and clear: starving the population is part of a specific strategy, as in many parts of the world. It's the only way they have to keep the people at bay."

"President Chavez, from here, on behalf of our people, I thank you for the good you may have done (...) and the bad and you have failed to do, the history will judge you."