In a gesture of solidarity amid political and social tensions in Venezuela, the Mexican Episcopal Conference (CEM) has issued a statement expressing its fraternal closeness to the Church and the Venezuelan people. This gesture aligns with a similar message from the Latin American and Caribbean Episcopal Council (CELAM), issued days earlier, highlighting a unified call for peace, justice, and respect for human rights.
The CEM statement, signed by Bishop Ramón Castro Castro, president, and Héctor M. Pérez Villareal, general secretary, coincides with the celebration of the Epiphany of the Lord. In it, the Mexican bishops echo the words of Pope Leo XIV, who urged prioritizing the well-being of the Venezuelan people above any other consideration. «It is urgent to respect the country’s sovereignty and observe constitutional requirements, overcome all violence, embark on paths of justice and peace, respect the human and civil rights of all, and work together for a future of stability and concord, with special attention to the poorest», states the document.
The CEM reiterates its communion with CELAM, assuring that «the Church in Venezuela is not alone». It entrusts the situation to the intercession of venerated figures such as Our Lady of Coromoto, Saint José Gregorio Hernández, and Mother Carmen Rendiles, invoking prayer and hope to overcome «this time of trial» toward reconciliation.
This pronouncement follows the CELAM message, published on January 4 on its official website. The CELAM presidency expressed closeness to the Venezuelan bishops, priests, consecrated persons, and lay faithful, recalling the Epiphany as a revelation of God as «light for all nations» that illuminates uncertainty. Welcoming the Angelus of Pope Leo XIV, they emphasized overcoming violence, respecting dignity, and promoting dialogue for justice and peace. «You are not alone», they declared, encouraging efforts to «build bridges, heal wounds, and advance reconciliation, excluding no one». They underscored the Church’s role as an «open house» and voice of hope, inspired by the Church’s Social Doctrine, appealing to the common good where truth, justice, and mercy are manifested.
Both messages avoid specific details about the Venezuelan crisis, but arise in a context of instability, possibly related to electoral or economic disputes that have generated protests and mass migration. Ecclesiastical analysts see in these statements an effort to maintain the Church’s neutrality, promoting dialogue without aligning with political factions. Pope Leo XIV, mentioned in both, has been key in past mediations in the region, such as in 2019 during similar tensions.
This regional solidarity reflects the tradition of the Latin American Church, forged in events such as the Puebla Conference (1979), where the preferential option for the poor was emphasized. In Venezuela, the local Episcopal Conference has denounced human rights violations, positioning itself as a mediator.
With Venezuela facing challenges such as hyperinflation and shortages, these messages invite the international community to prioritize humanitarianism. The CEM and CELAM conclude with optimism, and the bishops of Mexico invoke the intercession of Our Lady of Coromoto, patroness of Venezuela, and of the saints, and the doctor José Gregorio Hernández, and Mother María del Monte Carmelo Rendiles, both canonized on October 19, 2025, by Pope Francis, so that they accompany the Venezuelan nation on the paths of peace and reconciliation.
The full message can be seen here