Venezuelan Cardinal Denied Access to Isnotú for Saint Hernández's Celebration

Cardinal Baltazar Enrique Porras Cardozo was barred from attending a celebration in Isnotú, Trujillo, Venezuela, for José Gregorio Hernández, a significant figure in Venezuelan Catholicism.

• On October 25, 2023, Cardinal (Catholic Church) Baltazar Enrique Porras Cardozo announced that Venezuelan authorities prevented his travel to Isnotú, Trujillo, Venezuela.
• The visit was intended to participate in a mass honoring José Gregorio Hernández, who is revered as a potential Saint and celebrated for his contributions to medicine.
• The incident raises concerns about religious freedom in Venezuela, particularly as José Gregorio Hernández awaits canonization, a process that has garnered international attention.