Venezuela's embattled president to meet Pope at Vatican

FILE - In this July 21, 2016 file photo, Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro stands with Spain's former Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, left, and former Dominican Republic President Leonel Fernandez, during a photo opportunity after a meeting at Miraflores presidential palace in Caracas, Venezuela. Venezuela’s government says Pope Francis met with Maduro at the Vatican on Monday, Oct. 24, 2016. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano, File) (The Associated Press)

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Pro-government supporters push on the entrance gate of the National Assembly in Caracas, Venezuela, Sunday, Oct. 23, 2016. Government supporters interrupted a special congressional session where lawmakers were discussing bringing legal charges against President Nicolas Maduro. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos) (The Associated Press)

Venezuela's government says Pope Francis will meet with President Nicolas Maduro at the Vatican on Monday.

Information Minister Ernesto Villegas confirmed the meeting via Twitter but provided no additional details.

The stop at the Vatican, which wasn't previously announced, comes amid a tense standoff in Venezuela over the suspension of a recall referendum campaign seeking Maduro's removal and the opposition-controlled congress' declaration that the government had carried out a coup.

The Vatican has been attempting to mediate a resolution to the political crisis and opposition leaders on Monday met with Vatican representatives in Caracas.

Maduro had been in the Middle East on a multi-nation tour seeking to rally support for oil production cuts.

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