Related videos:
Pope Leo XIV requested to guarantee the sovereignty of Venezuela and to respect human rights.
The Pontiff expressed that he is following "with great concern the evolution of the situation in Venezuela" after the Marian prayer of the Angelus this Sunday, January 4, 2026, in St. Peter's Square, according to Vatican News.
"The well-being 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 and every person, and working to build together a serene future of collaboration, stability, and harmony, with special attention to the poorest who suffer due to the difficult economic situation," declared the leader of the Catholic Church.
"That's why I pray and invite you to pray, entrusting our prayer to the intercession of Our Lady of Coromoto and the saints José Gregorio Hernández and Sister Carmen Rendiles," he added.
Situation in Venezuela
The Supreme Court of Justice (TSJ) of Venezuela, controlled by chavismo, ordered early Saturday morning that Vice President Delcy Rodríguez take over the presidency of the country.
In an unprecedented decision, the highest court invoked Article 335 of the Venezuelan Constitution, which allows for the assurance of state continuity in exceptional situations.
The magistrate Tania D’Amelio, spokesperson for the ruling, explained that the court declares the existence of a "forced absence of the president" and, consequently, instructs Rodríguez to exercise "all the powers, duties, and authorities inherent to the position" until constitutional order is restored.
"The objective —D'Amelio explained— is to ensure the functioning of institutions, the comprehensive defense of the nation, and the preservation of public order in an exceptional and atypical context."
The TSJ acknowledged that the current situation constitutes a force majeure, not literally anticipated in the Constitution, which led the court to an expanded interpretation of Articles 234 and 239 to legitimize the temporary transfer of power.
The decision was made after intense internal debates on how to proceed in light of the foreign military intervention and the detention of the head of state.
From his residence in Mar-a-Lago, U.S. President Donald Trump declared that his country "will control Venezuela until there is a fair transition," and announced that the new Venezuelan government will be supervised to ensure "an orderly transition to democracy."
Filed under: