Following months of protests and violent responses, the Venezuelan government and the opposition have agreed to hold talks on the future of Venezuela, deciding what will come of all the protesting. Yet, both sides have different goals for the discussions, engulfing them in a shadow of doubt. Although mediators have been called on to supervise the talks, their impartiality and involvement remains shaky.

On Wednesday, the government of Nicolás Maduro asked the Vatican to send a moderator to mediate the talks between the government and opposition protesters, according to the Wall Street Journal. The request specifically asked for Cardinal Pietro Parolin, a veteran statesman and the second-highest ranking Vatican official, following the pope. Having been ambassador to Venezuela until 2013, Parolin makes for an obvious choice; however, neither he nor the Vatican have agreed on their involvement.

According to the Journal, the Vatican's response said they would mediate talks under the right circumstances. In the meantime, delegates from the Union of South American Nations, or UNASUR, are in Venezuela to broker the talks despite allegations of partiality towards the government. During earlier attempts by the opposition to broker talks or a deal with the Venezuelan government, UNASUR ignored them. Congresswoman Maria Corina Machado lost her place in Venezuela's legislature after her failed attempt to rouse support from the Unasur delegates.

The talks were agreed to on Tuesday and will involve delegates from Brazil, Ecuador and Colombia. The Vatican will continue to supervise the situation via the Apostolic Nuncio in Caracas, Aldo Giordano.

"I think this meeting lays the foundation for frank, face-to-face, direct and respectful dialogue to move forward toward a process of reconciliation," Mr. Maduro said in a national address Tuesday night. The leftist leader, however, then went on to say, "I would be a traitor if I started to negotiate the revolution."

The opposition also stated its intentions, which proved just as polarizing and did not mention the issues of crime and food scarcity that propelled the protests at the beginning. The Journal explains the opposition listed a four-point agenda, which included a call to release alleged political prisoners, disarming pro-government paramilitary groups, the creation of an independent truth commission, as well as a separation of powers in a country where they say public institutions like the Supreme Court and the National Electoral Council do the bidding of the ruling Socialist party.

On Thursday, talks began despite the fracturing in the opposition group. According to the Wall Street Journal, Leopoldo Lopez's Voluntad Popular party is not partaking in the talks. However, they did include former opposition presidential candidate Henrique Capriles. In a nationally televised six-hour meeting, both sides began discussions, according to Reuters.

"The road here was long and complicated, but it was worth it," Maduro said earlier in lengthy opening comments, but then added a word of caution. "There are no negotiations here. No pacts. All we're looking for is a model of peaceful coexistence, of mutual tolerance."

Capriles began his speech by refuting claims the opposition wants to overthrow the government and instead highlighted the plight of Venezuela's people. Yet, he also said that what has been happening is the government's own doing.

"We don't want a coup d'etat. We don't want an explosion on the streets," Capriles said. "Either this situation changes, or it bursts. I hope it changes because I don't want violence."

Despite Capriles' words, the death toll rose to 41 after a policeman was killed and protestor injured previously died of her wounds.