(Aleteia) The public and private institutions have been destroyed and the only institution remaining is the Church. The social political and economic situation in Venezuela continues to deteriorate gravely with shortages of food medicines and the basic necessities of daily life. The Church is suffering the consequences of this crisis along with the people and in many of the dioceses of the country the clergy and other pastoral workers who are involved in the indispensable work of addressing the material and spiritual needs of the people are themselves in need of aid in order to survive. Cardinal Baltasar Porras who is apostolic administrator of Caracas and at the same time Archbishop of Mrida spoke recently with a delegation from the international Catholic pastoral charity and pontifical foundation Aid to the Church in Need (ACN International) who were visiting the country to see the situation for themselves and observe how the aid projects of the charity are helping the Church in Venezuela in its pastoral and social outreach.