Archdiocese of Caracas offers assessment after June 24 earthquake, which left over 5,500 people dead, and establishes support plan– The Archdiocese of Caracas presented a report this Wednesday at a press conference detailing its response to the double earthquake that affected communities in Caracas and La Guaira.
The report prioritizes three key areas of focus: pastoral care, humanitarian assistance, and a technical assessment of the damaged church infrastructure.The presentation of the report was led by the Archbishop of Caracas, Monsignor Raúl Biord, who delivered the opening and closing remarks. The detailed presentation of the report included contributions from Father Ricardo Guillén, responsible for spiritual and pastoral accompaniment; Monsignor José Manuel León, Auxiliary Bishop, who reported on social and humanitarian assistance; and Father Neptalí Balza, responsible for infrastructure assessment .
Pastoral and spiritual care
Amid the emotional shock and fear experienced by the population, pastoral care has prioritized providing close spiritual support through physical presence and active listening . From the outset, the commitment has been to stand alongside those affected, helping them rebuild their lives and supporting them through grief and pain.
Bishops, priests, and permanent deacons were deployed to vulnerable areas of the capital (such as San Bernardino, Altagracia, El Paraíso, El Junquito, San José de Ñaraulí, Propatria, Catia, El Valle, Antímano, La Candelaria, and Chacao) and the central coast (Playa Grande, Maiquetía, Macuto, Caraballeda, Caribe, Naiguatá, among other communities). Their work has included visits to hospitals, morgues, and cemeteries to provide spiritual support, emotional comfort, and funeral services. A preliminary census was also conducted in makeshift shelters located in sports fields, schools, and public squares, while seminarians from four seminaries were activated in July and August to assist with relief efforts in these temporary shelters.
Psychological first aid and support workshops were organized with the support of UCAB and other institutions for priests, deacons, nuns, seminarians, ministers of communion and community leaders; priests who lost their homes were relocated, and collections were organized in favor of Caritas.
Spiritual comfort and adapted liturgy
In anticipation of aftershocks and in churches severely damaged, Masses and sacraments were moved to streets, plazas, and open spaces adjacent to the churches. Among these activities were the display of the Nazarene outside the Basilica of Santa Teresa, processions of the Blessed Sacrament through shelters and collapsed areas, national days of prayer, and a day of remembrance with the participation of the dioceses of La Guaira, Los Teques, Guarenas, and Petare, as well as others from the interior of the country.
Summary of the social report and assistance provided
To coordinate logistics, the Emergency Response Commission was created , led by Auxiliary Bishop José Manuel León and Father Nelson Molina. The main collection centers were established in Montalbán, Bello Campo, La Tahona, and San José del Ávila, with parishes serving as sub-centers. The structure included a distribution channel to La Guaira and Caritas Venezuela, supported by a mobile application for real-time inventory coordination. Approximately 490 tons of supplies have been delivered: non-perishable food, water and electrolytes, fresh produce and vegetables, medicines and medical supplies, shelter and overnight items, personal hygiene products, protective and rescue equipment, among others.
The distribution network has reached hospital centers (Hospital Vargas, Domingo Luciani, Military Hospital, Pérez Carreño, JM de los Ríos), shelters (Hogar Bambi, La Posada del Peregrino, Casa Juan Pablo II in Los Corales), collapsed sectors (El Junquito in its km 4, 11, 12 and town, Propatria, Tanaguarenas, Los Corales), camps in public parks (Parque del Este and Parque del Oeste) and institutions of La Guaira (Seminario San Pedro Apóstol, Catedral de La Guaira, Maiquetía, Catia la Mar).
This work was carried out through the collaboration of all the parishes in the archdiocese with private companies, foundations, ecclesial movements, sister dioceses (Mérida, Los Teques, Trujillo), and the faithful. The operation involved more than 500 volunteers and the support of seminarians from Caracas, La Guaira, Los Teques, Maracay, Valle de La Pascua, and Calabozo. Donations will be accepted indefinitely in two daily shifts (8:30 am to 1:30 pm and 2:30 pm to 7:30 pm).
Report on the infrastructure and condition of the churches
The Vicariate of Infrastructure carried out a preliminary technical evaluation, endorsed by the College of Engineers of Venezuela (CIV), on 27 ecclesiastical churches in the metropolitan area of Caracas:
22% (6 churches) – Green (Habitable): No structural damage, operational under regular use: San Benito Abad (San José de Ávila), Nuestra Señora Del Rosario de Fátima (Las Minas de Baruta), Sagrada Familia de Nazaret (La Tahona), Basílica de San Pedro Apóstol, Santo Tomás Apóstol, La Trinidad.
59% (16 churches) – Yellow (Restricted Use / Preventive): They present minor flaws or ornamental detachments that do not impede religious use, but require mitigation, demolition of vulnerable elements, filling and smoothing of surface imperfections: Our Lady of Altagracia, The Cathedral Tabernacle, Our Lady of Fatima, Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Sacred Heart of Jesus (Candelaria), Basilica of Saint Teresa and Parish of Saint Anne, Saint Rosalia of Palermo, Saint Joseph – Chacao, Child Jesus and Mother Cabrini (Pérez Bonalde), Holy Guardian Angels (Lomas de Urdaneta), Saint Francis Xavier (Lídice), Saint John the Baptist (Capuchinos), Saint Paul the Hermit (El Paraíso), Our Lady of the Rosary (Antímano), Our Lady of the Rosary (Curucay – Macarao), Our Lady of Mount Carmel, (Los Rosales) Our Lady of the Rosary of Fatima (Baruta)
19% (5 churches) – Red (Restricted Access): Preventive closure due to structural compromise or requirement for in-depth pathological study:
- San José de Ñaraulí (Cotiza – Altagracia Archpriestship).
- Our Lady of Mercy Church (Center – requires pathological study of load-bearing walls).
- Saint John Mary Vianney (La Silsa – Propatria Archpriestship).
- Our Lady of Lourdes (San Martín – fall of bell brackets and massive detachment of ornamentation).
- Santa Rosalía de Palermo (El Hatillo – requires structural pathological study).
Summary table:
| Classification | Amount | % of Total | Immediate Action |
| Green (Livable) | 6 | 22% | Regular use and preventive maintenance. |
| Yellow (Restricted Use / Maintenance) | 16 | 59% | Mitigation works, demolition of unstable ornaments and repairs. |
| Red (Restricted Access) | 5 | 19% | Preventive closure and urgent referral to the Technical Committee. |
| TOTAL CHURCHES INSPECTED | 27 | 100% |
Father Neptalí Balza, vicar general and director of infrastructure, also presented a five-phase recovery plan.
Phase 1 (emergency and active protection): Placement of a visible sign (Habitability Traffic Light) on the main door of each church, temporary shoring of critical areas and digital centralization of reports.
Phase 2 ( diagnosis and preliminary studies): Focused on documenting the actual condition of the churches and defining the technical roadmap, relying on external resources. This includes studies of materials in historical churches (many predating the 19th century), non-destructive testing, an academic partnership with architecture and engineering students and graduate students, and the creation of a parallel fundraising committee.
Phase 3 (earthquake-resistant projects and engineering): Calculation of reinforcements using compatible technologies (carbon fiber, mortar injection, tensioners) and validation before heritage entities.
Phase 4 ( execution of reconstruction and interventions) Classification and rescue of reusable collapsed elements (such as coffered ceilings) and restoration of artistic assets (stained glass, ornamentation and woodwork).
Phase 5 (verification and preventive maintenance): Application of a permanent long-term conservation protocol for historic buildings.
On July 20th, an important meeting was held with the president of the IPC (Institute of Cultural Heritage), the Ministry of Culture, and Fundapatrimonio of the Caracas mayor's office , to present the assessments of the structural damage to the archdiocese's churches. Contact has also been maintained with the mayors of Caracas, Chacao, Baruta, and El Hatillo. Subsequently, and by mutual agreement, the recovery and reconstruction of the affected churches will be planned, based on a commitment to preserving artistic and cultural heritage.
At the close of the press conference, Monsignor Carlos Márquez, auxiliary bishop, offered words of encouragement and hope, stating emphatically that Venezuela will rise up glorious and more united.
Source: https://arquidiocesiscaracas.com/arquidiocesis-de-caracas-ofrece-balance-tras-sismo-del-24-de-junio-y-establece-plan-de-acompanamiento/
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