Amid rising tensions between the United States and Venezuela, Leo XIV urged Washington to avoid violence, warning that military force harms “the defenseless first.”
Pope Leo XIV urged the United States on Tuesday to avoid “any violent operation” against Venezuela and called for “halting the escalation” in the Caribbean, as tensions rise with President Trump.
His remarks come amid allegations of extrajudicial killings, unprecedented U.S. military deployment, and mounting pressure on Maduro’s government. The Pope spoke aboard the papal plane returning from Beirut to Rome, concluding his first international trip as head of the Catholic Church.
When asked about Venezuela, Leo XIV criticized Trump’s hardened stance, which frames Maduro as the leader of a narcotrafficking organization. “Dialogue is better—perhaps even economic pressure—but always seeking another way, if that is what the United States intends to do,” he said.
His comments were seen as an attempt to slow a cycle of military actions that already include civilian casualties and rising international scrutiny.
Washington claims to have intercepted around twenty vessels allegedly linked to criminal networks, resulting in more than 80 deaths, though it has provided no conclusive evidence.
Caracas rejects those allegations, claiming the operations aim to trigger regime change and secure control over Venezuela’s energy resources.
Tensions escalated further on Sunday when Venezuela’s National Assembly created a commission to investigate alleged human rights violations and “extrajudicial executions” committed by U.S. forces.
🇻🇦🇺🇸🇻🇪 | ÚLTIMA HORA: El papa León XIV insta a EE.UU a no intentar derrocar militarmente a Maduro: "Es mejor buscar vías de diálogo". pic.twitter.com/1AUtBkEOaQ
— Alerta Mundial (@AlertaMundoNews) December 2, 2025
Assembly president Jorge Rodríguez said the victims include Venezuelans as well as Colombians, Dominicans, and Trinidadians. He described the U.S. military actions as “illegitimate, illegal, and equivalent to murder.”
The accusations are partly based on Washington Post reporting regarding a September 2 incident. Drone footage reportedly shows that after an initial strike on a Venezuelan vessel, two survivors clung to the wreckage.
According to the Post, U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth allegedly ordered troops to “kill them all,” prompting a second strike. If confirmed, the act could constitute a war crime.
Trump denied direct knowledge of the case but defended Hegseth: “He says he didn’t say that, and I believe him.” However, he pledged an investigation. Hegseth dismissed the allegations as “false,” asserting that all operations were “legal under U.S. law and international law.”
Human rights organizations and several regional governments warned that the operation may have violated international humanitarian law. In the United States, both houses of Congress launched military oversight procedures.
Senators Tim Kaine and Mark Kelly warned the incident could amount to a war crime, while bipartisan leaders on the Armed Services Committee demanded information from the Pentagon.
Against this backdrop, Leo XIV’s intervention carries significant weight. The Pope, born to a U.S.-Peruvian family and experienced in Latin American pastoral work, avoided confronting Trump directly but emphasized concern over the situation. “
“Weapons almost always strike first those who cannot defend themselves,” he said. He noted that both the Venezuelan Church and the apostolic nuncio are working to de-escalate tensions and protect civilians.
Maintaining a cautious tone, the Pope stressed that any solution must be negotiated. “We are doing everything possible to find a path that avoids further suffering. Dialogue is never easy, but it is always better than violence,” he stated.
Meanwhile, the White House called a meeting with Trump’s top advisers for Monday to determine next steps on Venezuela, as the Holy See seeks to quietly mediate. Leo XIV closed with a plea for restraint: “I hope voices of reason prevail.”
