Venezuelan opposition figure and Nobel Peace Prize recipient María Corina Machado has made a direct appeal to Pope Leo XIV during a private audience at the Vatican, urging him to help secure the freedom of hundreds of political prisoners held in her homeland.
Private Vatican audience confirmed
The meeting took place on Monday, 12 January 2026, and was not listed on the Pontiff's public schedule. The Vatican later confirmed the encounter in its official daily bulletin, though it provided no further specifics about the discussions. Ms Machado is currently on an international tour of Europe and the United States, having resurfaced in December 2025 after spending eleven months in hiding to accept her Nobel Peace Prize in Oslo.
In a statement released after the audience, Machado expressed her gratitude. "Today I had the blessing and honour of being able to share with His Holiness and express our gratitude for his continued support of what is happening in our country," she said. She added that she conveyed "the strength of the Venezuelan people who remain steadfast and in prayer for the freedom of Venezuela" and asked the Pope "to intercede for all Venezuelans who remain kidnapped and disappeared."
Broader diplomatic context and Trump link
The meeting occurs against a complex political backdrop. Pope Leo XIV has previously called for Venezuela to remain independent following the capture of former President Nicolás Maduro by U.S. forces. Maduro was taken to New York to face federal drug trafficking charges. The Pontiff has stated he is monitoring the situation with "deep concern" and has emphasised the need to protect human and civil rights in the country.
Machado also held talks with Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, who served as the Apostolic Nuncio to Venezuela between 2009 and 2013. Most of Venezuela's opposition leadership, including Machado, are now either in exile or detained.
In a notable move after winning the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize, Machado dedicated the award to U.S. President Donald Trump, expressing a desire to share it with him. President Trump has openly sought the Nobel Prize since returning to office in January 2025. However, the Norwegian Nobel Institute stated unequivocally that a prize cannot be revoked, transferred, or shared once announced, calling the decision "final and stands for all time."
Political stalemate continues
For years, the U.S.-backed Venezuelan opposition vowed to replace Maduro and restore democracy. However, President Trump dealt a significant blow to those plans by allowing Maduro's vice president, Delcy Rodríguez, to assume control of the country. Machado's appeal to the Pope underscores the ongoing humanitarian and political crisis, as she seeks influential international support for the release of detainees and a democratic transition.
