During the Angelus prayer on January 4, the first Sunday of the year, the Pope renewed his congratulations to everyone. Regarding the operation carried out yesterday by the United States to capture the Venezuelan president for trial in New York, Pope Leo XIV stated that “the good of the Venezuelan people must prevail and lead to the overcoming of violence and the pursuit of justice and peace.”.
These were the words of Pope Leo XIV, who is following “with great concern the evolution of the situation in Venezuela.”.
“The welfare of the beloved Venezuelan people must prevail above all other considerations, leading to an end to violence and the pursuit of justice and peace, guaranteeing the country's sovereignty, ensuring the rule of law enshrined in the Constitution, respecting the human and civil rights of each and every individual, and working together to build a peaceful future of collaboration, stability, and harmony, with special attention to the poorest, who suffer because of the difficult economic situation.”.
“That is why I pray and invite you to pray, entrusting our prayers to the intercession of Our Lady of Coromoto, and Saints José Gregorio Hernández and Sister Carmen Rendiles.”.
The operation to capture Nicolás Maduro
As was announced yesterday, this Saturday a US operation took place, explained in the afternoon at a press conference by President Donald Trump, in which US special forces detained and captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, to bring them to justice, following a bombing of military installations that met with no resistance.
Trump described the operation as “brilliant” and said that both men will be tried in New York on drug trafficking charges. The US will take control of Venezuela until a “safe, proper, and judicious” political transition takes place, he said. He also noted that US oil companies will play a key role in the country's industry.
The offensive has provoked numerous reactions. US Vice President J.D. Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who spoke at the press conference, celebrated the operation as a blow to drug trafficking, while Chavismo warned of the risk of regional destabilization. At the same time, demonstrations by Venezuelans were reported in cities around the world. President Trump has ruled out, for the time being, opposition leader and Nobel Peace Prize winner Corina Machado for an immediate role, considering that she “has no support” in the country.
What the Pope said on December 3
On the plane back to Rome after his apostolic trip to Turkey and Lebanon, when asked by journalists about the tensions between Trump and Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, Pope Leo said that the Vatican is in contact with “the bishops and the nuncio” to try to find ways “to calm the situation,” especially because those who suffer most are the ordinary citizens of Venezuela.
However, Leo XIV added that “the voices coming from the United States are changing,” alternating between ultimatums to Maduro and occasional softening of rhetoric. “I don't know any more,” said the Pope, but it is always better to seek the path of dialogue., reported Cindy Wooden of CNS, on the papal flight.
Bishops of Venezuela
The Venezuelan Episcopal Conference has issued a statement in response to the events in the South American nation, rejecting violence, calling for calm among the people, and requesting “that the decisions taken are always made for the good of our people,” Vatican News reported yesterday.
In light of the events unfolding in Venezuela, the Venezuelan episcopate has issued a message expressing its closeness to and support for the people of its country. It calls for perseverance in prayer and rejects any form of violence.
“In light of the events our country is experiencing today, let us ask God to grant all Venezuelans serenity, wisdom, and strength. We stand in solidarity with those who were injured and the families of those who died. Let us persevere in prayer for the unity of our people,” the message reads.
The bishops also ask that the decisions made be for the good of the Venezuelan people: “We call on the People of God to live more intensely in hope and fervent prayer for peace in our hearts and in society. We reject any kind of violence. May our hands be open to encounter and mutual aid, and may the decisions that are made always be for the good of our people.”.
The coming of Jesus, a double commitment
During the Angelus prayer, the Pontiff emphasized two ideas, among others. The mystery of Christmas reminds us that “the foundation of our hope is the incarnation of God,” and “the coming of Jesus in the weakness of human flesh, while rekindling our hope, also entrusts us with a double commitment, one toward God and the other toward human beings.”.
«Towards God, because if He became flesh, if He chose our human frailty as His dwelling place, then we are always called to think of God from the flesh of Jesus and not from an abstract doctrine.».
And “towards human beings, our commitment must be equally consistent. (...). God calls us to recognize in each person their inviolable dignity and to practice mutual love towards one another.”.
“In this way, the Incarnation also asks us to make a concrete commitment to promoting fraternity and communion, so that solidarity may be the criterion for human relations; to justice and peace; to caring for the most fragile and defending the weak. God became flesh, and therefore there is no authentic worship of God without caring for human flesh.”.
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