In a significant diplomatic intervention, Pope Leo has made a direct appeal to US President Donald Trump's administration, urging it to refrain from using military force to oust Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.
A Call for Diplomacy Over Force
The pontiff, speaking to journalists on Tuesday, 2 December 2025, while returning from his inaugural overseas trip to Turkey and Lebanon, suggested that dialogue or economic sanctions would represent a more appropriate path for Washington. The first American pope, originally from Chicago, stated that if the US seeks to instigate change in the South American nation, it should "search for ways of dialogue, or perhaps pressure, including economic pressure."
His comments came in response to questions about President Trump's threats to remove Maduro by force. The Pope emphasised that Washington should explore alternative methods "if that is what they want to do in the United States."
Mixed Signals from Washington
Pope Leo also expressed confusion over the Trump administration's conflicting policy signals towards Venezuela. "On one hand, it seems there was a call between the two presidents," he noted, referencing a phone conversation between Trump and Maduro last month.
"On the other hand, there is the danger, there is the possibility there will be some activity, some (military) operation," the Pope continued. He observed that "the voices that come from the United States, they change with a certain frequency," highlighting the perceived inconsistency in Washington's stance.
Background of US-Venezuela Tensions
The Trump administration has been actively considering various measures against Caracas, citing President Maduro's alleged involvement in supplying illicit drugs linked to American fatalities—a charge the socialist leader vehemently denies.
According to a Reuters report from last month, options under serious consideration include a direct attempt to overthrow the Venezuelan government. This follows a substantial US military buildup in the Caribbean and nearly three months of strikes on vessels suspected of drug trafficking off Venezuela's coast.
The Pope, who has personal familiarity with Latin America from his years as a cleric in Peru before his election in May, positioned his appeal within a framework of seeking peaceful resolution. His intervention adds a powerful moral voice to the international debate surrounding the escalating crisis.
