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Vatican City, Jan 4, 2026 / 06:51 am (CNA).

Pope Leo XIV expressed deep concern over the situation in Venezuela and called for the country’s national sovereignty to be fully respected, one day after a U.S. operation ended with the capture and arrest of President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores.

“With a heart full of concern I follow the evolution of the situation in Venezuela,” the pope said, underscoring that “the good of the beloved Venezuelan people must prevail above any other consideration.”

Speaking to pilgrims gathered in St. Peter's Square for the recitation of the Angelus, Leo XIV insisted on the need to “overcome violence” and called for “embarking on paths of justice and peace, guaranteeing the country’s sovereignty.”

The Holy Father also pointed to the importance of “ensuring the rule of law enshrined in the Constitution” and of “respecting the human and civil rights of each and every person.”

He further urged working together to “build a serene future of collaboration, stability, and concordia.”

The pontiff emphasized that this effort must be carried out “with special attention to the poorest, who suffer because of the difficult economic situation.”

Finally, the pope invited Catholics to unite in prayer for Venezuela, entrusting this intention “to the intercession of Our Lady of Coromoto and of Saints José Gregorio Hernández and Sister Carmen Rendiles,” canonized last year.

The pope’s remarks come at a moment of maximum political and international tension for Venezuela following the capture of President Maduro and his wife, and Maduro's imminent prosecution on U.S. soil on drug trafficking charges.

Hours earlier, U.S. President Donald Trump said a second wave of attacks was planned if forces in the country offered resistance. “We are going to govern Venezuela until there is a safe transition,” he said at a press conference.

Meanwhile, Venezuela’s Supreme Tribunal of Justice has ordered that Vice President Delcy Rodríguez assume the presidency due to Maduro’s “forced absence.”

This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA.

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Jan 4, 2026 / 00:15 am (CNA).

The U.S. capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has drawn divergent international reactions, with European leaders calling for restraint ahead of an emergency U.N. Security Council meeting Monday.

Pope Leo XIV has not yet commented on Saturday's operation, though observers expect him to address the situation during his midday Angelus address Sunday. The pope warned in December against U.S. military intervention in Venezuela, urging President Trump to seek dialogue rather than force.

The Vatican's daily newspaper, L'Osservatore Romano, led its Saturday edition with coverage of the "sudden escalation," describing the situation in Caracas as "highly volatile."

European leaders stress international law

EU High Representative Kaja Kallas said on X she spoke with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and the EU ambassador in Caracas. Acknowledging Maduro "lacks legitimacy," she called for a peaceful transition while prioritizing EU citizens' safety.

French President Emmanuel Macron wrote on X that Venezuelans "could only rejoice" at ridding themselves of dictatorship. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez affirmed Spain never recognized Maduro but will not recognize "an intervention that violates international law".

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said "Britain was not involved" while posting on X that the UK "regarded Maduro as an illegitimate president and we shed no tears about the end of his regime."

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz acknowledged Venezuela's drug trafficking while confirming Germany had not recognized the Maduro regime as legitimate. He called for a transition towards a democratically elected government.

China, Russia condemn strikes

China's Foreign Ministry expressed "deep shock" at the "blatant use of force," noting its envoy met with Maduro hours before the operation.

Russia called the strikes "armed aggression", saying “ideological hostility has triumphed over businesslike pragmatism.”

The U.N. Security Council will convene an emergency meeting at 10 a.m. Monday in New York after Colombia requested the session, backed by permanent members Russia and China.

U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres said he is "deeply alarmed," describing the operation as "a dangerous precedent."

Latin American responses divided sharply, with Brazil, Colombia, Chile, and Mexico condemning the strikes while Argentina's Javier Milei praised the capture. Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado declared "the hour of freedom has arrived."

Maduro is being held at Brooklyn's Metropolitan Detention Center ahead of Monday's arraignment on narco-terrorism charges. Venezuelan bishops called for prayer and national unity.

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