Pope Francis has reportedly written to Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro indicating conditions aren't ripe for the Vatican to step in and help mediate in the country's political crisis.

Corriere della Sera quoted on Wednesday from a letter it said Francis wrote to Maduro on Feb. 7, several days after the socialist leader said he had asked the pope to help launch talks with the opposition.

The Vatican didn't immediately reply to requests seeking comments on the letter.

On Monday, a delegation representing Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido met at the Vatican with Holy See officials.

Francis has lamented that Venezuelan bishops were frustrated in their efforts to help defuse political and social tensions in the country, where much of the population sorely needs food and medicine.