Hugo Chavez Dies at Age 58: Cries out to Jesus on state TV “Give me Your crown, Jesus,” the ailing autocrat proclaimed. “Give me Your cross, Your thorns so that I may bleed. But give me life, because I have more to do for this country and these people. Do not take me yet.

After years of criticizing the church, kicking out Christian missionaries, assisting terrorists and praising atheists, Venezuela’s mercurial strongman, Hugo Chavez, came home from a botched cancer treatment in Cuba, then took to Venezuela’s airwaves to call out to Christ for help.
posted by Rob Kerby, Senior Editor

“Give me Your crown, Jesus,” the ailing autocrat proclaimed. “Give me Your cross, Your thorns so that I may bleed. But give me life, because I have more to do for this country and these people. Do not take me yet.”

Chavez in an earlier photo. His hair has regrown or he’s taken to wearing a wig

“Chavez cried,” reported David Gerges for the British newspaper the Daily Mail, “and his voice broke in the televised speech made in his home of Barinas, in front of his parents and other relatives. The 57-year-old praised Jesus andcalled on God to spare his life, in an emotional speech. Chavez made his plea standing below an image of Jesus with the Crucifix. He was anchored by his mother and father who both held his hand as a priest led a prayer for his health.”

Read more: http://blog.beliefnet.com/news/2012/05/after-years-of-terror-corrup…

With Mr. Chávez just months into his fourth term, his death plunged Venezuela into political uncertainty. The foreign minister said Mr. Maduro, as expected, would take over for Mr. Chávez until an election is held within 30 days.