Pope Leo XIV held a surprise private audience with Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado, drawing international attention to the Vatican’s continued engagement with Latin America’s political and humanitarian challenges.
According to sources familiar with the meeting, the audience took place at the Vatican and was not listed on the Pope’s official public schedule. Discussions reportedly focused on the ongoing political crisis in Venezuela, the humanitarian situation facing millions of citizens, and the role of dialogue, democracy, and peaceful solutions in addressing the country’s deep divisions.
Machado is understood to have briefed the Pontiff on conditions inside Venezuela, including economic hardship, migration pressures, and concerns over political freedoms. The Pope, in turn, reiterated the Vatican’s long-standing calls for respect for human dignity, free and fair democratic processes, and efforts to reduce suffering among ordinary people.
The Vatican has traditionally maintained a careful diplomatic balance regarding Venezuela, advocating dialogue while urging authorities to prioritize the welfare of citizens. While no formal statement was immediately issued following the meeting, the surprise audience itself was widely seen as symbolically significant.
Observers say the encounter underscores the Vatican’s influence as a moral and diplomatic actor on the global stage, particularly in regions affected by prolonged political instability. The meeting is expected to prompt renewed discussion among international stakeholders about pathways toward a peaceful and inclusive resolution to Venezuela’s crisis.
