In a world that is increasingly turbulent and full of uncertainties, the testimony of Bishop Carlos Márquez, Auxiliary Bishop of Caracas, shines like a beacon of hope and faith. Throughout his life, Bishop Márquez has witnessed the transforming power of God’s love, a love that has been his support in the most difficult moments and that, according to his words, is capable of overcoming any barrier. “God’s love can do everything,” he affirms with conviction, and his personal testimony is a living reflection of that affirmation.
A Deep Encounter with the Love of God
The story of Bishop Carlos begins like that of many others: a life full of challenges, doubts and moments of suffering. However, it was precisely in those moments of vulnerability that young Carlos felt the divine call to a life dedicated to the service of God and others. In his youth, Monsignor Marquez experienced firsthand the difficulties of life. He saw how illness, loss, and adversity knock on the door of every human being. However, in the midst of those moments of trial, he also experienced a profound encounter with the love of God, a love that showed him that there is no pain or suffering that is beyond the reach of his grace.
This personal encounter with divine love marked a before and after in his life. As he delved deeper into his priestly vocation, Monsignor Marquez experienced that the love of God is not just an abstract presence, but is manifested in concrete acts of compassion, closeness, and solidarity. “When you discover that God loves you, you cannot remain indifferent. His love calls you to act, to be an instrument of his peace, to extend that love to others,” says Monsignor Márquez, who throughout his ministry has sought to be a living example of that invitation to service and dedication.
The Love of God as a Transforming Force
Monsignor Carlos has lived and witnessed how the love of God can transform lives. During his time as a priest and later as a bishop, he has had the opportunity to accompany many people who are going through moments of anguish, loneliness and despair. In each of these encounters, he has witnessed the way in which divine love can heal the deepest wounds and restore hope.
“Faith does not promise us a path without difficulties, but it does guarantee that we will never be alone. God is with us, and his love can do everything,” he says with a sparkle in his eyes. This conviction is what has allowed him, for years, to offer comfort to those who suffer, regardless of the circumstances. In every Mass, in every prayer, Monsignor Marquez has become a channel for transmitting that love that he knows can heal, strengthen and transform.
Throughout his pastoral work, Monsignor has insisted that the love of God is not something that remains on the spiritual or abstract level. “The love of God is lived in practice,” he says. For him, this love translates into concrete actions: caring for the poor, being close to the sick, welcoming those who feel they have no place in society, patience with those who need it most. In his vision, being a true disciple of Christ is to commit to living that love, to taking it to the streets, to families, to communities.
The Pastoral Vocation as a Response to Divine Love
The Pastoral Vocation as a Response to Divine LoveOne of the most outstanding aspects of his testimony is his deep understanding of what it means to be a pastor. Monsignor Marquez explains that the pastoral vocation is not a position, but a response to God’s call, an invitation to live in constant service. For him, God’s love is so great that it cannot be withheld; it must be shared with everyone, especially with those most in need. “A pastor must be a bridge between God’s love and the people. My task is to be the first to love and the first to bear witness to that love,” he says humbly.
Throughout his ministry, he has stressed the importance of closeness to the faithful. For Monsignor Márquez, being a bishop is not just a title, but a responsibility that involves being present in moments of joy and pain, accompanying the faithful in their daily lives and transmitting to them, through his example, the joy of living in the love of God. “God has called me to be his instrument, but it is He who transforms lives. I am only a channel of his love,” he says.
A Message of Hope and Confidence
In times of great challenges, where the social, political and economic crisis hits many nations, the testimony of Monsignor Carlos Márquez is a call to hope. He reminds us that, although the path of life is full of obstacles, we are not alone. God’s love is with us, and its power is infinite. “God’s love knows no limits. He can heal any wound, restore any life and give meaning to any suffering,” he concludes.
The central message that Monsignor Márquez shares with those who listen to him is clear and resounding: God’s love has the power to transform everything we touch. In the midst of darkness, there is always light, and that light is divine love. It is a love that does not tire, that does not run out and that is always ready to embrace us, regardless of our weaknesses or failures.
Monsignor Carlos Márquez is a living testimony to the truth that, when we allow ourselves to be touched by God’s love, our lives can change forever. In his example, we find an invitation to trust fully in that love, to live it with generosity and to share it with all those around us. “The love of God can do all things,” and in that truth lies the key to overcoming any challenge.
