Pope Leo XIV says Venezuela must be an independent country

Pope Leo XIV, the first American Pontiff in history, said that Venezuela must remain an independent country. The statement came after the United States attack on the Venezuelan capital Caracas and the capture of President Nicolás Maduro.

Leo XIV stated that he is following the situation in the country with “deep concern” and called for respect for human rights. At the beginning of December, the Pontiff had already made an appeal for the United States to prioritize dialogue with Venezuela before any operation in the country and was against any violent solution.

The leader of the Catholic Church has deep ties with Latin America, especially with Peru, where he was a missionary for almost three decades, becoming a naturalized Peruvian citizen.