Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on January 4, 2026
1 min readLast updated: January 20, 2026
Add as preferred source on GooglePope Leo calls for Venezuela's independence and respect for human rights amid US actions against Maduro, emphasizing the need for peace and sovereignty.
By Joshua McElwee
VATICAN CITY, Jan 4 (Reuters) - Pope Leo called for Venezuela to remain an independent nation and said he was following developments after the United States' toppling of President Nicolas Maduro with a "soul full of concern" on Sunday.
Leo, the first American pope, also called for respect for human rights and the rule of law "as enshrined" in Venezuela's constitution.
"We must not delay in overcoming violence and embarking on paths of justice and peace, while guaranteeing the country's sovereignty," the pope told pilgrims in St. Peter's Square during his Sunday prayer.
U.S. President Donald Trump on Saturday said the U.S. would take control of oil-rich Venezuela after ordering a raid to capture Maduro, who is currently being held in a New York detention center awaiting drug charges.
Leo, who has criticized some of Trump's right-wing policies, in December had urged the U.S. president not to oust Maduro using military force.
"The good of the beloved Venezuelan people must prevail over every other consideration," said the pontiff.
(Reporting by Joshua McElwee; Editing by Valentina Za and Elaine Hardcastle)
Human rights are the basic rights and freedoms that belong to every person in the world, from birth until death. They include the right to life, freedom of speech, and the right to education.
The rule of law is the principle that all individuals and institutions are accountable to the law, which is fairly applied and enforced. It ensures justice and protects human rights.
Sovereignty is the authority of a state to govern itself or another state. It means having full control over a territory and the ability to make decisions without external interference.
Explore more articles in the Headlines category
