The evening hours of the Solemnity of the Birth of St. John the Baptist, widely celebrated across the Catholic world with a national holiday, turned tragic for Venezuela. Two earthquakes, with magnitudes of 7.2 and 7.5, hit a minute apart at 6:04 in the evening. The initial death toll is rising quickly as buildings across the region have collapsed.
Archbishop Raúl Biord Castillo, Metropolitan Archbishop of Carcas, took to the streets to offer help as families search for the wounded and churches are collapsed. He urged Venezuelans to solidarity.
Rescue workers from the US, the Dominican Republic, Mexico, and El Salvador, among other places, are headed to the nation to assist with the search and rescue.
The US Geological Survey notes that many thousands might have died, due to the extent of the damage and the region in which the quakes were centered.
This earthquake is the strongest to hit the country since the year 1900. That year, a 7.7 quake struck near the coast of Venezuela on October 29, 1900. It is known as the San Narciso earthquake.
We pray
We turn to prayer, that God might assist the search and rescue teams, bring comfort to the grieving, healing to the injured, and that the souls of the departed may rest in peace.
In 2025, Venezuela's first two saints were canonized: Dr. José Gregorio Hernández and Sister María del Carmen Rendiles.
Saint José Gregorio, great doctor of the poor, pray for your country.
Saint María del Carmen, who served the poor with your own disabilities, pray for your country.
Blessed Candelaria de San José, pray for your country.
Blessed María de San José, pray for your country.Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us.
Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us.
Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us.
See maps of the areas of destruction here:
