US Christian leaders minister to an anxious Venezuelan diaspora

Faith leaders serving Venezuelans in Venezuela and the U.S. are urging prayer and calm after U.S. forces captured deposed leader Nicolás Maduro; communities in South Florida showed both celebration and uncertainty.

Faith leaders who minister to Christians in Venezuela and to Venezuelans living in the United States are calling for prayers for peace and calm after U.S. forces captured deposed leader Nicolás Maduro. Church leaders in Venezuela issued cautious appeals for patience, while many pastors among the diaspora in the U.S. expressed relief and held services and vigils. Large Venezuelan communities in South Florida marked the event with public celebrations, but some residents and clergy emphasized uncertainty about the future. The interim government in Venezuela and U.S. officials have signaled possible shifts in relations, and religious leaders say the church may have a role in promoting reconciliation. Key facts: - Nicolás Maduro was captured in a U.S. military operation and flown out of the country, according to the report. - Venezuela’s interim leader, Delcy Rodríguez, has assumed the role and has offered collaboration with the U.S. administration. - Catholic and evangelical leaders in Venezuela and the diaspora urged calm, prayer, and reconciliation amid high emotions. - About 8 million people have left Venezuela since 2014 and many live in the U.S., with a large community centered in South Florida where reactions included both celebration and anxiety. Summary: Religious leaders are responding to the capture of Nicolás Maduro by urging peace and calm while ministering to congregations that feel both hopeful and uncertain. Undetermined at this time.