Cardinal  Felipe Arizmendi, Bishop Emeritus of San Cristóbal de Las Casas and responsible for the Doctrine of the Faith at the Mexican Episcopal Conference (CEM), offers Exaudi readers his weekly article.

FACTS

Donald Trump, President of the United States of America, believing himself to be king of the world, with no control other than  his own (immoral) morality, decided to invade Venezuela and kidnap Nicolás Maduro, who was claiming to be the country’s president, even though the elections of July 28, 2024, had not resulted in a majority victory for him. With the power of an invading military force, without oversight from international organizations and violating the laws that govern the rights of nations, Trump proclaimed himself master of the universe, with the authority to intervene in the lives of a people, motivated not so much by a desire for democracy, but by his ambition to control Venezuelan oil and generate profits for companies in his own country. Money is his master, driving him primarily in everything he does, regardless of the countless human lives lost. If Trump wants to prevent drugs from entering the country, he should control the internal mafias within his own country, which are the ones that traffic them. He should find a way to reduce consumption among his fellow citizens, and not blame others for his own problems.

The above does not imply a defense of Maduro and his government. Quite the contrary; he committed abuses and violated many of his people’s rights. There are those who follow and defend him, especially because of the aid his government provides to the poor, similar to what happens in Mexico with our government’s social programs. However, listening to many Venezuelans, particularly the millions who have fled abroad, we understand that Maduro encouraged serious violations of personal and social freedoms, manipulated elections to proclaim himself the winner without providing proof with the voting records, and further crippled the national economy. A few years ago, I had to go to Venezuela on assignment from the Holy See to three Mexican bishops, and I witnessed the enormous and inexplicable economic decline of the majority, despite the immense wealth that could be generated through proper oil exploitation. But Maduro’s grave violations do not justify a foreign power invading his country to seize control.

The Venezuelan bishops have chosen to wait to see the present and future situation more clearly, but some have already expressed their views, calling for prudence and mutual respect. As the Pope has urged, their primary concern is to promote the good of the people and prevent further polarization to find paths to reconciliation, justice, and peace.

LIGHTNING

Pope Leo XIV, the day after the American invasion, during his Sunday address after the  Angelus,  stated,  “I am following with great concern the evolution of the situation in Venezuela. The good of the beloved Venezuelan people must prevail above any other consideration and lead to overcoming violence and embarking on paths of justice and peace,  guaranteeing the sovereignty of the country,  ensuring the rule of law enshrined in the Constitution, respecting the human and civil rights of each person, and working together to build a serene future of collaboration, stability and concord, with special attention to the poorest who are suffering because of the difficult economic situation”  (January 4, 2026) .

In his annual address to the Diplomatic Corps accredited to the Holy See, drawing inspiration from St. Augustine’s work  De Civitate Dei,  he said:

“The earthly city is centered on pride and self-love, on the thirst for worldly power and glory that leads to destruction… Augustine also warns of the grave dangers to political life posed by false representations of history, excessive nationalism, and the distortion of the ideal of the political leader…”

The principle established after World War II, which prohibited countries from using force to violate the borders of others, has been broken. The aim is to assert one’s own dominance through weapons. This seriously undermines the rule of law, which is the foundation of all peaceful civil coexistence. It is essential to ensure that no one is tempted to impose their will on others through a mindset of force, whether verbal, physical, or military. Pride obscures both reality itself and our empathy for others. It is no coincidence that pride is always at the root of all conflicts.

The increased tensions in the Caribbean Sea and along the Pacific coast of the Americas are also a cause for deep concern. I wish to renew my urgent appeal for peaceful political solutions to the current situation, keeping in mind the common good of all peoples and not the defense of partisan interests.

This is especially true for Venezuela, following recent events. I renew my appeal for  respect for the will of the Venezuelan people  and for efforts to protect the human and civil rights of all and to build a future of stability and harmony. In this way, a society founded on justice, truth, freedom, and fraternity can be built, and the country can emerge from the crisis that has afflicted it for many years.

Among the causes of this crisis is, undoubtedly, drug trafficking, which is a scourge on humanity and requires the joint commitment of all countries to eradicate it and prevent millions of young people around the world from becoming victims of drug use. Alongside these efforts, there must be greater investment in human development, education, and the creation of employment opportunities for people who, in numerous instances, become involved in the world of drugs without knowing it  (January 9, 2026).

ACTIONS

In addition to praying for Venezuela, for respect for its autonomy, for the conversion of its rulers to justice and peace, let us re-educate ourselves to live in respect and harmony in the family, with neighbors, with coworkers, and with others