(NewsNation) — After a U.S. raid during which American special forces captured Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, religious leaders in the country are calling for prayer, peace and calm.
In a statement posted to social media in Spanish on January 3, the Catholic bishops’ conference of Venezuela said, “In the face of the events that our country is experiencing today, let us ask God to grant all Venezuelans serenity, wisdom and strength.”
“We call on the people of God to live more intensely in hope and fervent prayer for peace in our hearts and in society, and we reject any type of violence,” they continued. “May our hands be open for encounter and mutual help, and may the decisions that are made always be for the good of our people.”
The Catholic Church in Venezuela is a significant voice of opposition to the Maduro government, with bishops and clergy frequently criticizing human rights abuses, economic mismanagement, and political repression. Their opposition has led to harassment, threats and restrictions against Church leaders, institutions and the faithful. Catholicism is Venezuela’s dominant faith.
The New York Times has called the leadership of the Catholic Church in Venezuela “arguably the last national institution critical of Mr. Maduro’s autocratic rule.”
US special forces capture Maduro
Maduro was captured by U.S. forces on January 3 at the direction of President Donald Trump. Authorities said the U.S. military first conducted strikes on the capital city of Caracas before taking Maduro into custody, transporting him to New York City.
Maduro faces four counts of narcoterrorism conspiracy, cocaine importation conspiracy, possession of machine guns and destructive devices, and conspiracy to possess machine guns and destructive devices.
Prosecutors also allege Maduro and Flores ordered beatings, kidnappings and killings “against those who owed them drug money or otherwise undermined their drug trafficking operation,” among a slew of other accusations. The charges mirror a 2020 indictment filed during Trump’s first term, but this case adds charges against Flores.
AG Pam Bondi: Maduro to ‘face wrath’ of court
Attorney General Pam Bondi wrote on social media that Maduro and Flores “will soon face the full wrath of American justice on American soil in American courts.”
The Justice Department has assembled a team of 10 attorneys representing the U.S. in the trial, which is viewed as historic and unprecedented, given Maduro’s status as a former foreign leader and the circumstances of his capture.
Some legal experts have drawn comparisons to former Panamanian leader Manuel Noriega, who was captured during a U.S. military invasion and later tried in a U.S. court on drug charges.
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