Vatican Secretary of State calls for justice in Venezuela

In a powerful public intervention, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican’s Secretary of State, addressed the political and human rights crisis in Venezuela. His words came during a Mass of thanksgiving on October 20, for the canonization of Venezuela’s first male and first female saints, José Gregorio Hernández and Madre Carmen Rendiles Martínez

With the official Venezuelan delegation seated prominently, The Pillar explains, Cardinal Parolin made remarks of striking clarity:

He went on to urge Venezuela to build peace on the foundations of justice, truth, freedom and love, centred on respect for human rights, democratic coexistence and the common good.

Historically, the Holy See has maintained a relatively cautious posture toward the Venezuelan government. While past interventions — such as a 2016 letter condemning the government’s “violent and insincere rhetoric” — exist, a more direct public challenge from a Vatican official has been rare.

Cardinal Parolin’s choice of words show that he felt it was the occasion for a firmer stand on human rights concerns in Venezuela. Before being called to the Vatican in 2013 as Secretary of State under Pope Francis, Parolin was the papal representative in Venezuela for five years, so he knows the situation on the ground better than most.

The Catholic Church remains one of the few institutions in Venezuela with broad public trust and enough moral authority to speak on political matters. That the Vatican’s top diplomat now urges concrete change lends significant weight to local bishops’ longstanding calls for justice and freedom.

In the days preceding the canonization, the Venezuelan bishops’ conference had urged the release of more than 800 political prisoners. And at a public event, Cardinal Baltazar Porras described Venezuela’s situation as “morally unacceptable,” citing poverty, militarisation, corruption and erosion of institutional autonomy.

By invoking the newly canonized saints of Venezuela, Cardinal Parolin framed political transformation in terms of Christian witness: loving “truly and with deeds.” These saints are held up not simply as holy figures, but as models for a society moving “from death to life … from darkness into noon.”

In sharing this vision, the cardinal echoes the moral teaching of the Church: human dignity, freedom and the common good are not optional extras — they are intrinsic to authentic Christian life. The Catechism of the Catholic Church states that respect for human rights is rooted in the dignity of the person.

It remains to be seen how the Venezuelan regime will respond. The canonization celebrations were large and state-sponsored, and while the Church enjoys a unique position of moral authority there, realpolitik pressures persist.

For the faithful and for observers, the key question is: will this shift in tone generate a ripple effect — in diplomatic engagement, in local Church-state dialogue, and in concrete improvements to human rights? Cardinal Parolin’s words emphasise the Church’s role not only in spiritual matters but in the public promotion of justice and freedom.

This article draws primarily on the reporting by Edgar Beltrán for The Pillar.