US Christian leaders are ministering to a anxious Venezuelan diaspora in the United States, following the US capture of deposed leader Nicolás Maduro. The Catholic archbishop of Miami, Thomas Wenski, who ministers to the largest Venezuelan community in the US, said there is an anxiousness about what is next, but he believes the church has a key role to play in helping the Catholic-majority country move forward.
Faith leaders in Venezuela, including the Catholic bishops' conference and the Evangelical Council of Venezuela, have issued cautious statements, appealing for calm and patience. In contrast, many pastors in the diaspora have welcomed Maduro's ouster. The situation is particularly significant for the large Venezuelan community in South Florida, where many of the approximately 8 million people who have fled Venezuela since 2014 have settled.
The US capture of Maduro has sparked high emotions and uncertainty among Venezuelans in the US and in Venezuela. Christian leaders are urging prayers for peace and calm, as the country navigates its future.