BREAKING Pope Leo XIV Meets Venezuela's Opposition Leader and Nobel Laureate Maria Corina Machado at the Vatican



Pope Leo XIV Meets Nobel Laureate Maria Corina Machado at the Vatican

VATICAN CITY — Following a series of morning meetings at the Apostolic Palace, Pope Leo XIV held a private audience with Venezuelan politician and human rights activist Maria Corina Machado.

Machado, a former member of the Venezuelan National Assembly, was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in October 2025 for her efforts in promoting democracy.

Context: The Capture of Nicolás Maduro

The meeting occurs just ten days after a significant shift in Venezuelan politics. On January 3, 2026, a U.S. military operation known as “Operation Absolute Resolve” led to the capture of Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, in Caracas.

  • Current Status: Maduro is being held at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, USA, facing charges of drug trafficking and narco-terrorism.

  • Interim Government: Venezuela is currently under the interim leadership of Delcy Rodríguez, with international efforts focused on a democratic transition.

  • Upcoming Meetings: Machado is expected to travel to Washington later this week to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump.

The Pope’s Appeals for Peace

During the meeting, the Pope reflected on his recent public statements regarding the crisis. Following the January 3rd operation, which resulted in approximately 80 casualties, Pope Leo XIV expressed his “deep concern” for the region.

“The good of the beloved Venezuelan people must prevail over every other consideration. This must lead to the overcoming of violence, and to the pursuit of paths of justice and peace, guaranteeing the sovereignty of the country,” the Pope stated during his Angelus address on January 4.

He further emphasized the need to protect:

  • Human and civil rights of every individual.

  • The poorest citizens suffering from the economic crisis.

  • A future of harmony and international cooperation.

A Vision for the Future

In a subsequent meeting with the diplomatic corps on January 9, the Pope reiterated his call for a transition based on:

“...a society founded on justice, truth, freedom and fraternity, and thus enable the nation to rise from the grave crisis that has afflicted it for so many years.”

He concluded his appeal by urging the international community to “respect the will of the Venezuelan people, and to safeguard the human and civil rights of all, ensuring a future of stability and concord.”

Source: Vatican News

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