In a statement released at the end of their Ordinary Plenary Assembly, the Venezuelan bishops urge for national reconciliation based on respect for popular sovereignty, for the release of political prisoners, and for urgent attention to the humanitarian crisis.
by Vatican News
Drawing from a passage from the book of the prophet Isaiah, “our light shall break forth like the dawn,” the Venezuelan bishops addressed the People of God at the end of their 125th Ordinary Plenary Assembly.
In a pastoral exhortation released on February 9, 2026, by the Venezuelan Bishops’ Conference, the Bishops conveyed a message of hope, while highlighting that “the events of January 3 of this year have profoundly changed the political and social landscape.”
In the face of the concerns and fears generated by the social, political, and economic situation of their country, the bishops allowed themselves to be illuminated by the Gospel that recounts Christ in the boat with His disciples calming the storm. It “invites us,” they write, “to announce that Jesus is always with His people. He is the God-with-us, the Emanuel.”
The bishops base their reflections on Pope Leo XIV’s words after his Angelus prayer on Sunday, January 4.
“The good of the beloved Venezuelan people must prevail over every other consideration. This must lead to the overcoming of violence, and to the pursuit of paths of justice and peace, guaranteeing the sovereignty of the country,” he had said.
Building on the Pope’s remarks, the bishops list the complex situation that the population is facing , such as the lack of opportunities for fairly paid work, “widespread and unpunished corruption, violations of human and civil rights, including freedom of expression and the right to due process and defense.”
Sovereignty and democracy
The bishops’ message emphasizes that guaranteeing sovereignty and democracy requires rebuilding the country’s institutions, restoring the independence of public powers, and ensuring a credible Supreme Court of Justice and National Electoral Council to guarantee free and fair elections.
It also highlights that the state must exercise effective control over all territory, including urban and indigenous areas. The Bishops add that all Venezuelans, both inside and outside the country, must participate in this process in an atmosphere of mutual respect, seeking stable coexistence regardless of ideology or political affiliation.
The text also underlines that “The sovereignty of the people, expressed through universal, direct, and secret voting, was disregarded when the state authorities failed to publish the detailed results of the presidential elections held on July 28, 2024″.
“The events of January 3 this year have profoundly changed the political and social landscape, although they have been interpreted as a violation of international law, many believe they open pathways to achieve the democratization of the country,” the bishops continue.
“We share in the pain of our people”
The Church leaders then go on to reaffirm their closeness and solidarity – as they have done before – with political prisoners and their families, with the millions of people who have had to emigrate, with the sick who cannot obtain their medication, with the young people whose opportunities for progress through study and work have been cut short, with the indigenous communities that are highly marginalized and forgotten, with those who have lost their property through arbitrary confiscations, and many others who suffer for various unjust reasons.
“We share in the pain of our people”, say the bishops, “and we pray with hope for the eternal rest of all those who have died as a result of violence, whether recent or past, for they are valuable human lives that have been lost without meaning.”
In the text the Church renews its commitment to promoting the common good, especially for the most poor and needy, and calls on all sectors to contribute to achieving this goal and to prioritize it over personal, ideological, partisan, or economic interests.
Processes of reconciliation, mutual recognition, and peace
Regarding the desire to live in peace and freedom, the bishops state that such a dream can be achieved by avoiding violence, banishing lies, hatred, resentment, vengeance, and verbal war.
“This requires all Venezuelans to undergo processes of coming together, mutual recognition, forgiveness and reconciliation, and purification of memory, in truth and justice, with a firm commitment to respect the dignity of the people and the continuous exercise of fraternity.”
Human rights and freedom
The Bishops of Venezuela then reaffirm the importance of guaranteeing the human and civil rights of all, reminding that respect for the dignity of the person is the basis of the peaceful and sustainable progress of the nation.
They emphasize the need to repeal laws that restrict fundamental rights, especially those related to freedom of expression, voting, and the functioning of civil organizations.
The bishops also share their positive view regarding the fact that some individuals imprisoned for political reasons or for freely expressing their ideas have been released, and reiterate their call for the complete release of all political prisoners.
They also express support for the approval of a general, broad, and inclusive amnesty law as a crucial step toward reconciliation and democratic coexistence.
A future with attention to the poorest
The text then calls for the building of a future of freedom and justice, strengthening the family as the foundation for the integral development of individuals and fostering the participation of all sectors of society.
In it, the bishops insist on overcoming poverty, which affects a large part of the population. They emphasize the need for resources from the oil industry to be allocated to improving salaries and social programs – designed justly and not based on partisan clientelism – to ensure that citizens can live and meet their basic material, social, and intellectual needs.
Lastly, the bishops invite Venezuelans to find light and strength through daily prayer to face the current challenges. This includes through practices such as prayerful reading of the Word, Eucharistic adoration, the Stations of the Cross, and spiritual encounters during Lent, which will help strengthen bonds as children of the same land.
Trusting in the intercession of the Virgin Mary of Coromoto, the bishops finally urge everyone to take on with courage and generosity their responsibilities in order to collectively find the progress of the homeland through paths of freedom, justice, and peace.
