Venezuelan Christian leaders called for steadiness and prayer after the United States government deposed their president.

The head of the country’s Roman Catholic bishops urged Venezuelans to “trust in God and the values of our people.” And the pastor who leads the Consejo Evangélico de Venezuela, the national evangelical alliance, reminded Christians that God “reigns over the nations and guides history.”

The first American-born pope, meanwhile, expressed “deep concern” about his home country’s actions

“The good of the beloved Venezuelan people must prevail over every other consideration,” Pope Leo XIV said on Jan. 4 from the papal studio window overlooking St. Peter’s Square.

U.S. military forces captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores in a covert operation Saturday. Maduro faces criminal prosecution in the U.S., where he has been charged with drug trafficking and terrorism.

President Donald Trump blamed Maduro for a flood of drugs and gang members coming into the U.S. and said military intervention was justified by Venezuela’s nationalization of the oil industry in 2007.

“Venezuela unilaterally seized and sold American oil, American assets, and American platforms costing us billions and billions of dollars,” the president said in a press conference Saturday. “This constituted one of the largest thefts of American property in the history of our country. Considered the largest theft of property in the history of our country. Massive oil infrastructure was taken like we were babies.”

Reaction among the Christian community in the U.S. has ranged from triumphant Facebook posts saying the military action would “kick off a global revival” to thumbs down from Sojourners magazine. The progressive magazine re-posted a story from last summer: “The U.S. is Playing the Wrong Role in the Good Samaritan Story.”

Evangelist Franklin Graham praised Trump for taking decisive action.

“He does what he says he’s going to do!” Graham wrote on X. “I’m sure the people of Venezuela are breathing a huge sigh of relief that this evil dictator, Nicolás Maduro, is gone.”

Some Christian leaders in Venezuela have been fierce critics of Maduro. The socialist leader was first elected in 2013 and has used increasingly authoritarian tactics to stay in power. He has been accused of rigging elections and using state violence to squelch political opposition and criticism.

The country’s National Guard, National Police, military forces and pro-Maduro gangs killed at least 24 people after a contested election in 2024. One human rights group said the murders “amount to extrajudicial executions.”

Government forces also arrested thousands without any formal charges. Amnesty International reports that Maduro’s government tortured many of these prisoners, including children. The International Criminal Court found “a reasonable basis” to bring charges of “crimes against humanity.”

Roman Catholic bishops used a Christmas message to condemn the Maduro administration’s treatment of protestors and political opponents.

U.S. escalation put country on edge

The Venezuelan bishops also critiqued the Trump administration’s escalation of conflict.  The holiday had been overshadowed by “repeated and, at times, contradictory reports of military action near our coasts with regrettable loss of life,” the bishops said.

Archbishop Jesús González de Zárate of Valencia said the U.S.’s increasing aggression put everyone in Venezuela on edge. When the attack on the capital city of Caracas started at 2 a.m. Saturday, everyone started praying, according to the archbishop.

Zárate told an Italian news agency that “the facts are still in development,” making it difficult to “properly assess” the situation. But Christians in the country should “trust in God and the values of our people.”

The country’s Roman Catholic bishops posted a joint statement on social media, calling for serenity, wisdom and strength.

Bishop Juan Carlos Bravo Salazar, who ministers in Petare, the Catholic diocese east of Caracas, urged people not to take to the street and not to spread rumors.

“For the good of our people, do not … disseminate unverified and unconfirmed information, nor from sources that are not reliable or official,” he said. “Maintain serenity, peace, and above all a climate of prayer.”

Evangelical pastor José G. Piñero, who serves as executive director of the Consejo Evangélico, expressed similar concerns. He said it was important for Christians to resist the anxiety and mania that can come with rapid change.

Need to limit social media consumption

The evangelical alliance encouraged people to limit time spent on social media.

“We suggest setting aside a specific time each day to stay informed,” Piñero wrote, “dedicating the rest of the time to prayer, fellowship, service, and other activities that … advance the Kingdom of God.”

The pastor said he was personally praying “for discernment to interpret the times with wisdom.”

He also expressed hope that Maduro’s downfall would lead to “a true and lasting transformation that honors justice, truth, and the dignity of every citizen.”

Many evangelicals have criticized Maduro’s government, especially expressing concern with programs funneling money to churches. In 2023, the evangelical alliance put out a statement saying “the evangelical soul is not for sale.”

Pastors have also complained about the economic impact of Maduro’s government. Pastor José de los Santos Rodríguez told Christianity Today that his church in Maracaibo, about 80 miles from the Columbian border, had to close because Maduro’s policies turned the city “into a pile of trash.”

María Jiménez de Ramírez, head of the mainline Iglesia Presbiteriana de Venezuela (Presbyterian Church of Venezuela), said people have been living with years of anger, confusion, anguish and indignation. They turn to the church for hope, but also the prophetic promise of justice.

A possibility of justice?

A Venezuelan studying for ministry at a Church of Christ school in Honduras told The Christian Chronicle on Saturday that he had mixed feelings about seeing Maduro deposed.

On the one hand, he believes his faith calls him to oppose all war. On the other, he and many others have cried to God for years for peace and freedom.

“I cannot deny that my heart feels a sense of hope at the possibility of justice being served in Venezuela,” Yhonatan Parada said. “My faith teaches me that God is not indifferent to the suffering of people.”

Giovanni Luisio Mass, a lay minister who heads the Order of the Poor Knights of Christ in Venezuela, told the Catholic magazine Crux that Maduro’s capture has raised hopes of change. But that also brings new fears “that opportunistic politicians may take advantage of the situation and seize power.”

Leaders from every denomination asked Christians to pray.

“Remain in prayer before the throne of grace, begging our God for a climate of peace and tranquility,” Nacional Bautista de Venezuela (National Baptist Convention of Venezuela), said in a statement. “Stay tuned to events and generate a climate of tranquility.”