President Trump details US raid that captured Maduro in Venezuela
At a press conference, President Donald Trump detailed the U.S. military operation that detained President Nicolas Maduro and his wife overnight in Caracas.
A day after the United States carried out an early morning attack in Venezuela and detained President Nicolás Maduro, Pope Leo XIV called for Venezuela to remain an independent country and supported respect for human rights around the world.
President Maduro and his wife have been indicted on federal drug and weapons charges and are expected to appear at an arraignment in New York City as early as January 5, according to multiple media reports. They arrived in the United States by helicopter through Venezuelan airspace, took a U.S. Navy ship to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and then flew to New York.
Leo, America’s first pope, spoke in St. Peter’s Square on January 4 and said he was watching developments in Venezuela, adding in particular that the “sovereignty of the country” must be guaranteed.
What did Pope Leo XIV say about Venezuela?
Pope Leo XIV told an audience in St. Peter’s Square that he was watching events in Venezuela with “great concern.”
“The interests of the beloved Venezuelan people must prevail above all considerations and we must work together to overcome violence and begin a journey of justice and peace, guaranteeing the country’s sovereignty, ensuring the rule of law as written in the Constitution, respecting the human and civil rights of all people, and building a peaceful future of cooperation, stability and harmony, with special consideration for the poorest people who suffer due to difficult economic conditions,” Leo said, calling on attendees to join him in prayer.
The Pope later echoed similar sentiments on social media platform X.
The attack on Venezuela and the detention of the country’s leader immediately prompted a variety of reactions from Venezuelans and people around the world. While some, including many Venezuelans living in the United States, welcomed President Maduro’s removal from power, others feared for the future stability of the South American country.
Kate Perez covers national trends and breaking news for USA TODAY. You can reach her at kperez@usatodayco.com or on Twitter @katecperez_.
