Pope Leo XIV received María Corina Machado, one of the main leaders of the Venezuelan opposition, in a private audience at the Vatican this Monday, January 12, as reported by the Holy See in the official bulletin of audiences, without providing further details.
The meeting takes place at a time of high tension in Venezuela. The US military operation that culminated in the capture of President Nicolás Maduro has generated a scenario of uncertainty and political reconfiguration, with Vice President Delcy Rodríguez assuming as interim president.
In this context, Leo XIV has shown closeness to the Venezuelan people. In his speech to the Vatican diplomatic corps on January 9, the Pontiff condemned the resort to force in international politics and emphasized the need to respect the sovereignty and the will of the Venezuelan people, advocating for the respect of human rights and justice amid the crisis.
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The audience also takes place just a few days before Machado meets with US President Donald Trump, as announced by the president himself, to discuss the capture of Maduro, his wife, and the political future of Venezuela in this particularly complex process.