Pope Receives Venezuela Opposition Leader Amid Political Tensions
In a move with significant political undertones, Pope Leo XIV received Venezuelan opposition figure and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Maria Corina Machado at the Vatican on Monday. The private audience was listed among the pontiff’s official engagements, though the Holy See released no details regarding their discussion.
The meeting coincides with a delicate moment in Venezuela’s protracted political crisis. On the same day, Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani announced the release of two Italian nationals, Alberto Trentini and Mario Burlo, who had been detained in Venezuela since November 2024. While no direct link was established, the timing highlights the complex web of diplomatic negotiations surrounding the South American nation.
Machado’s standing has shifted in recent months. Despite winning the Nobel Peace Prize in December, she has been sidelined by Washington following the U.S.-led intervention that ousted President Nicolás Maduro. U.S. President Donald Trump, who previously questioned her domestic support, announced last Thursday that he would meet with her this week.
Pope Leo, who has consistently advocated for dialogue and stability in Venezuela, addressed the nation’s plight just days before the audience. In a Friday speech to diplomats, the 70-year-old pontiff appealed for the protection of Venezuela’s sovereignty and “the will of the Venezuelan people,” while urging the safeguarding of human and civil rights for all. His remarks were widely seen as a response to President Trump’s earlier suggestion that the United States could exercise prolonged control over the country.
The Vatican’s engagement is further evidenced by recent diplomatic contacts. The Holy See’s Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin—a former papal envoy to Venezuela—held discussions last week with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Their talks focused on efforts to improve the humanitarian situation, particularly within Venezuela.
The papal audience with Machado underscores the Vatican’s persistent role as a neutral actor seeking pathways to peace and reconciliation. By receiving a key opposition leader, Pope Leo continues a tradition of diplomatic outreach, balancing calls for justice and human rights with a firm stance against foreign intervention and in favor of a Venezuelan-led political solution.
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