VATICAN CITY -- Pope Francis met with Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro to initiate dialogue between his government and the coalition of rival parties, in an attempt to work towards alleviating the current unstable situation in Venezuela, Vatican sources said Tuesday.

 The Holy See press office notes the pope's role as mediator in this South American country torn apart by a dramatic crisis, after his welcoming of the Venezuelan president to the Vatican Monday evening. Maduro flew to Rome Monday to attend the last-minute meeting -- which lasted about 30 minutes -- called for by the head of the Holy See to try to mediate a dialogue between representatives of the opposing political sides about the country's political crisis.

 This is the first time, after many previous attempts, that the Vatican has succeeded in bringing together Maduro and his opposition for attempted dialogue. Maduro and representatives from the coalition of opposition parties have agreed to the Vatican's mediation and have scheduled Sunday for their first formal discussion meeting. Some representatives are still hesitant, however.

 “The meeting came about in the context of the worrying political, economic and social crisis that the country is undergoing and that is causing strong repercussions in the daily life of the whole population,” said a note from the Vatican press office.

 The pontiff “thus initiated the brave first steps along the path of sincere and constructive dialogue, to alleviate the suffering of the people, and especially that of the poor, which may allow a hopeful look towards the future of this nation,” said the Holy See.

 nkd