Pope Leo XIV meets with Venezuelan opposition leader, Nobel laureate María Corina Machado

Report on the Meeting Between Pope Leo XIV and Venezuelan Opposition Leader, Nobel Laureate María Corina Machado

On January 12, 2026, Pope Leo XIV held a significant meeting with Venezuelan opposition leader and Nobel laureate María Corina Machado at the Vatican Apostolic Palace.

The encounter, which was not initially part of the pope’s official schedule, took place in the library of the Apostolic Palace and was later confirmed by the Vatican. A brief video released by Vatican officials showed the two leaders warmly greeting each other, shaking hands, and engaging in conversation at the pope’s desk.

Machado, representing the Venezuelan opposition coalition Comando con Venezuela, described the meeting as a blessing and an honor. In her statement, she emphasized her appeal to the pope for assistance in securing the release of more than 1,000 political prisoners in Venezuela and for supporting an immediate transition to democracy.

She expressed gratitude for the pope’s ongoing attention to the Venezuelan crisis and conveyed the resilience of the Venezuelan people, who remain steadfast in their prayers and determination for freedom.

Machado also asked the pontiff to intercede on behalf of those Venezuelans who remain detained or missing.

The opposition leader reiterated to Pope Leo XIV that the will of the Venezuelan people had been demonstrated in their election of Edmundo González during the 2024 presidential election.

However, she noted that González’s victory was overturned by the Venezuelan election authority, which remained loyal to President Nicolás Maduro. Machado highlighted the spiritual struggle endured by Venezuelans over the years and suggested that, with the support of the Church and unprecedented pressure from the United States government, the “defeat of evil” in Venezuela was approaching.

Following her audience with the pope, Machado also met with Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican’s Secretary of State, further underscoring the importance of her visit. The timing of the meeting was particularly notable, as it came just days after Nicolás Maduro and his wife,

Cilia Flores, were captured in a U.S. military operation ordered by President Donald Trump on January 3, 2026. The couple was transported to New York, where they now face narco-terrorism conspiracy charges.

This meeting between Pope Leo XIV and María Corina Machado represents a pivotal moment in the intersection of faith, politics, and international diplomacy. It highlights the Vatican’s role as a moral and spiritual authority in global affairs, particularly in moments of political upheaval.

For Venezuela, the encounter symbolizes both international recognition of the opposition’s struggle and a potential source of moral support in its pursuit of democratic transition.