Maduro Seeks Vatican Support Amidst US Military Presence
Caracas, Venezuela – In a move coinciding with heightened tensions stemming from a US military deployment in the Caribbean Sea, Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has formally requested the support of Pope Leo XIV in consolidating peace within Venezuela.
According to a statement released via Telegram by Venezuelan Chancellor Yván Gil, Ambassador Franklin Zeltzer delivered a letter from President maduro to the Holy See’s Secretary of State, Pietro Parolin. The letter specifically requests “special support to consolidate peace in Venezuela,” amidst Maduro’s claims that the US military presence constitutes a threat.
The request for Vatican support comes as Venezuela conducts internal military exercises aimed at strengthening its territorial defense. These exercises are a direct response to the US deployment, which includes at least eight warships, a nuclear-powered submarine, and over 4,500 personnel operating in the Caribbean Sea. The US maintains the deployment is focused on combating drug trafficking, while maduro alleges it is a pretext for a potential “regime change” attempt.
Alongside the diplomatic outreach to the Vatican,preparations are underway for the canonization of two Venezuelan figures: lay doctor José Gregorio Hernández and religious figure Carmen Rendiles,scheduled for october 19th. Gil stated that the meeting with Vatican officials also facilitated “all the necessary coordinations for events related to the canonization.”
Meanwhile, Venezuelan Minister of Defense Vladimir Padrino López has publicly called for national unity to “make Venezuela a great power” and resist what he characterized as US hegemony.
The situation remains tense as Venezuela navigates the complex interplay of internal defense preparations, diplomatic appeals, and the ongoing US military presence in the region.