The cardinal's comments are likely to further strain relations with Chavez, who has described the church as a "tumor."

Castillo is retired and said he could not speak officially for Venezuela's church. But he is the highest-ranking member of the church hierarchy in Venezuela.

He said the people of his nation should refuse to recognize the left-wing president because he was not ruling democratically, citing an article in Venezuela's constitution stipulating that citizens could reject a leader if he violated democratic principles or human rights.

"Reject this government," the cardinal declared, charging that Chavez "has seized control of all the branches of government." He said Chavez maintained a "varnish of democracy" but had assumed dictatorial powers.

"His goal above all is not to help the poor but to concentrate his power," Cardinal Castillo said, adding that Chavez was trying to install Cuban-style communism in the country.

Chavez, who calls himself the "second Fidel," has outlawed most forms of public protest, rewritten Venezuela's constitution to broaden his powers, purged critics in the military and tried to take over the national federation of trade unions.

He also engineered a law allowing his government to suspend the licenses of radio and TV stations for content "contrary to the security of the nation," and has even set up his own Latin American satellite channel to rival what he calls the U.S. propaganda that can now be seen on satellite TV.

Chavez responded to Castillo's remarks by calling the cardinal an "immoral bandit and coup-mongerer."

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