US Christian leaders minister to anxious Venezuelan diaspora after Maduro's capture

Faith leaders are urging prayers and calm after the U.S. capture of Nicolás Maduro, and Venezuelan communities in South Florida and elsewhere have shown both celebration and anxiety.

Faith leaders in the United States and Venezuela are urging prayers for peace and are tending to congregations unsettled by the U.S. capture of deposed leader Nicolás Maduro. Church bodies inside Venezuela issued cautious appeals for calm and patience, while many pastors serving the Venezuelan diaspora in the U.S. welcomed the change. Large Venezuelan communities, especially in South Florida, gathered for services and public expressions of feeling, ranging from celebration to concern about what comes next. Millions who have left Venezuela since 2014 remain affected by political shifts and recent changes in U.S. immigration policies that altered protections for many migrants. Key points: - The U.S. capture of deposed leader Nicolás Maduro was reported and has prompted responses from religious leaders in both countries. - The Catholic bishops' conference and the Evangelical Council of Venezuela issued cautious calls for calm and patience. - Venezuelan congregations in the U.S., including large communities in South Florida, showed mixed reactions — some celebrated while many expressed anxiety about the future and their legal status. - Interim President Delcy Rodríguez has taken Maduro's place and has offered to collaborate with the U.S. government, a development noted in statements. Summary: Religious leaders are emphasizing prayer, reconciliation and pastoral care as Venezuelans at home and abroad process a major political change. Many in the diaspora feel hopeful and relieved while also anxious because recent changes in U.S. immigration policy affected their temporary protections. Undetermined at this time.