Venezuela's Catholic Bishops Call for Prayer "We call upon the People of God to live more intensely the hope and fervent prayer for peace in our hearts and in society"
In Venezuela, immediately after the capture of its President Nicholas Maduro, by U.S. President Donald Trump's military, Bishop Juan Carlos Bravo Salazar of the Diocese of Petare, issued a statement (see bottom). He invited the people to pray and not lose hope. Later on the Venezuelan bishops' conference issued a prayer for the people to recite for peace. According to CBC News, during a brief court appearance in New York, ousted Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, each pleaded not guilty to narco-terrorism, drug trafficking and weapons charges. Venezuelan Vice-President Delcy Rodríguez has been sworn in as the country’s interim president following an emergency ruling by its Supreme Court. Initially calling ousted President Nicolás Maduro's capture a violation of international law, Rodríguez is now offering to co-operate with U.S. President Donald Trump on the next steps for Venezuela’s government.
Prayer of the Bishops Conference of Venezuela: In light of the events unfolding in our country, 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. We call upon the People of God to live more intensely the hope and fervent prayer for peace in our hearts and in society, rejecting all forms of violence. May our hands be open for encounter and mutual support, and may the decisions we make always be for the well-being of our people.
May Our Lady of Coromoto accompany us on our journey.
Corpus Christi Parish Full Text STATEMENT of Bishop Juan Carlos Bravo Salazar of the Diocese of Petare
January 3, 2026
Dear brothers and sisters: As a country, we are living through times marked by uncertainty and tension. We feel more than ever the need to cling to the Word of God, which illuminates our path even when the road becomes dark. Saint Paul exhorts us with strength and clarity: “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will” (Romans 12:2). Not letting ourselves be swept away by the current does not mean acting recklessly or unnecessarily exposing ourselves to danger. On the contrary, it means discerning with wisdom, putting life at the center, and choosing what truly pleases God: caring for our brothers and sisters, protecting the most vulnerable, and taking responsibility for the concrete reality we are experiencing.After praying, listening, and discerning, as a parish community, we have decided that our church will remain closed for the time being, thinking above all of the physical integrity and safety of all parishioners, given the uncertainty that surrounds us today. This decision does not stem from fear, but from pastoral love and a commitment to life.
The Church does not close when the doors of the church close. The Church remains alive in every home, in every family that prays, in every act of solidarity, in every heart that allows itself to be inwardly renewed by the Lord.
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