Christian leaders have weighed in on the US capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores.
The couple were captured by the US Army’s Delta Force and transported to the US where they’re being held on the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn. They face drug trafficking and weapons charges, which Maduro denies.
US President Donald Trump has said that the US will temporarily run Venezuela and “get the oil flowing”.
Some Christian leaders have been positive about Trump’s actions.
American evangelist Franklin Graham said Trump was a president “that doesn’t just talk, but takes motion”.
Writing on X, the long-time Trump supporter said, “I’m sure the people of Venezuela are respiration an enormous sigh of relief that this evil dictator, Nicolás Maduro, is gone.”
He asked people to “pray for President Trump and his team to have wisdom from God as they assess what the subsequent steps should be”.
Pastor and creator Michael A Youssef was captivated with the raid on Venezuela.
“THANKYOU Mr President,” he wrote on X.
“All oppressed people of the world have a renewed hope today due to your courageous and decisive motion in Venezuela,” he said.
In one other post, Youssef said the US President had “raised the hopes of hundreds of thousands of oppressed people all over the place on the earth today”.
The Evangelical Council of Venezuela has responded with caution, saying it’s trusting God through the crisis.
“We extend our prayers and solidarity to all our brothers and fellow residents who’re experiencing moments of uncertainty or fear,” it said.
It added, “We reaffirm our trust within the sovereignty of God, who reigns over the nations and guides history in line with His everlasting purpose.”
Pope Leo used his Angelus address on Sunday to induce respect for international law and express his “deep concern” over the situation.
Speaking to the crowds in St Peter’s Square, he said, “The good of the beloved Venezuelan people must prevail over every other consideration.”
He continued, “This must result in the overcoming of violence, and to the pursuit of paths of justice and peace, guaranteeing the sovereignty of the country, ensuring the rule of law enshrined in its Constitution, respecting the human and civil rights of every and every one, and dealing together to construct a peaceful way forward for cooperation, stability and harmony, with special attention to the poorest who’re suffering due to the difficult economic situation.”
Christian aid agency World Vision is asking on the international community to offer support to hundreds of thousands of vulnerable Venezuelan families and kids.
World Vision said there are over seven million Venezuelan refugees and displaced nationals sheltering in neighbouring countries including Brazil, Peru, Colombia, Ecuador, and Bolivia. Inside Venezuela, around five million individuals are facing hunger.
“Millions of Venezuelans dream of returning home, yet they face severe challenges in accessing basic services equivalent to health, education, nutrition, and child protection,” said Joao Diniz, World Vision’s regional leader in Latin America and the Caribbean.
“In times of uncertainty, children are essentially the most in danger. We must ensure their psychosocial and physical protection,” he added.
Following Maduro’s removal, Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodriguez is now acting leader of the country. In an announcement on Sunday night she said that Venezuela seeks “peace and peaceful coexistence”, and that she wants a “balanced and respectful” relationship with the US “based on sovereign equality and non-interference”.
“Our country aspires to live without external threats, in an environment of respect and international cooperation,” Rodriguez said. “We consider that global peace is built by guaranteeing the peace of every nation first.”
She continued, “We extend the invitation to the US government to work together on a cooperation agenda, oriented to shared development, inside the framework of international legality and strengthen an enduring community coexistence.”
She added, “President Donald Trump: our peoples and our region deserve peace and dialogue, not war.”
UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has refused to sentence the US strikes on Venezuela.
In an announcement he said, “The UK has long supported a transition of power in Venezuela. We regarded Maduro as an illegitimate President and we shed no tears in regards to the end of his regime.
“I reiterated my support for international law this morning. The UK government will discuss the evolving situation with US counterparts in the times ahead as we seek a protected and peaceful transition to a legitimate government that reflects the need of the Venezuelan people.”
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