Chavez and the Vatican

Madam, - I read that the Vatican is concerned that the left-leaning Venezuelan president, Hugo Chavez, is asking his people …

Madam, - I read that the Vatican is concerned that the left-leaning Venezuelan president, Hugo Chavez, is asking his people to vote to amend the constitution so that he can stand for another term (The Irish Times, October 20th). This it categorises as part of an "authoritarian" campaign to concentrate power in the hands of the few.

Is this the same Vatican that allows 120 cardinals to elect a pope for life with no reference to the 1.2 billion-strong Roman Catholic congregation? - Yours, etc,

PAUL CARON, The Warehouse, Clanbrassil Terrace, Dublin 8.