Venezuelan Bishops' Conference (CEV) secretary, Monsignor Jose Luis Azuaje has announced the death, late Sunday night, of 74-year-old Archbishop of Caracas, Monsignor Ignacio Velasco "after a long illness and suffering which he faced with gallantry."

Cardinal Velasco was last seen in public when he fainted during a special mass to the Virgin of Coromoto two months ago.  He died at 11:30 p.m. Sunday.  His mortal remains are being removed this morning to the Santa Iglesia de Caracas Cathedral where a candlelight vigil will be held through Wednesday when his funeral is to take place.

Venezuela has had four Cardinals: Jose Humberto Quintero, Jose Ali Lebrun Moratinos, Rosalio Castillo Lara and the now-deceased Ignacio Velasco.  Monsignor Lebrun died February 21, 2001, the same day as Velasco received the purple to join the 184 select ecclesiasticals of which 135 would be convened to elect a new Pope on the death of the present Pontiff John Paul 2nd.  24 Latin American elector cardinals remain following Velasco's death.

Antonio Ignacio Velasco Garcia was born on January 17, 1929, in Guanare, Acarigua and joined the Salesian Society of St. Francis in Los Teques) to be ordained priest in Rome on December 17, 1955.  He was elected titular Bishop of Utimmira and appointed Apostolic Vicar of Puerto Ayacucho on October 23, 1989.  He took part in the 9th World Synod of Bishops at the Vatican in October 1994 and was appointed to the archbishopric of Caracas May 27, 1995.

 Cardinal Ignacio Velasco was one of the leading prelates who signed in support of Dictator-for-a-Day Pedro Carmona Estanga (right)  in the wake of the abortive April 11, 2002 coup d'etat

Archbishop Velasco shot to international fame when on April 12, 2002, the was among those first in line to give his blessing to the 2-day coup d'etat in which USA-backed Dictator-for-a-Day Pedro Carmona Estanga immediately assuming powers to dissolve Venezuela's congress, judiciary and the constitution in one fell swoop but was unceremoniously kicked out of Miraflores when Venezuelan citizens rallied in support of illegally kidnapped President Hugo Chavez Frias.