Cardinal Jorge Urosa Savino, Archbishop of Caracas, has called on President Hugo Chávez, re-elected with a big majority on 3 December, to "show political intelligence" by inviting the defeated opposition to take part in a "great national dialogue" on proposed changes to the country's constitution. "You can't impose constitutional changes on the people," he last weekend. "The important thing is that all sectors of the population should take part, and that dissenting opinions are heard."

Cardinal Urosa, who also urged President Chávez to show clemency to political prisoners, has worked hard to improve relations between the aggressively left-wing President and a Church that has often been very critical of his behaviour. He feels the moment has now come to use his influence to encourage Mr Chávez to be more conciliatory. The cardinal stopped short of offering to take part in political discussions as head of the Church, but he did say that "Christians and Catholics are here to offer our contribution". He also called on supporters of the centre-right candidate, Manuel Rosales, to accept defeat with good grace and to continue their political struggle. 

Venezuela is a society deeply divided between admirers and opponents of  Mr Chávez, who was returned for another six-year term with more than 60 per cent of the votes. He has pledged to use his mandate to radicalise his proclaimed "Bolivarian revolution".