Pope Leo, the first American-born pontiff, has stepped squarely into the center of a rapidly escalating confrontation between the United States and Venezuela, urging President Donald Trump not to resort to military force in his bid to remove Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro from power. Speaking to reporters at the close of his inaugural overseas journey as pope—a trip that took him to Turkey and Lebanon—Leo called for dialogue and economic measures over armed intervention, warning of the human toll of war and the dangers of unclear political messaging.
"It is better to search for ways of dialogue, or perhaps pressure, including economic pressure," Pope Leo told journalists in Turkey, as reported by Newsweek. His remarks came just days after President Trump, on November 29, 2025, declared that the airspace "above and surrounding" Venezuela should be considered "closed in its entirety," a move that set off alarm bells about the possibility of imminent military action. The Trump administration has ramped up its campaign against Maduro, accusing the Venezuelan leader of facilitating the flow of illegal drugs into the U.S. and blaming him for the surge of Venezuelan migrants fleeing economic collapse and repression.
Since early September, the U.S. has authorized a series of military strikes targeting small boats suspected of ferrying drugs in the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific Ocean. According to Newsweek and The Guardian, at least 83 people have been killed in 21 such strikes, marking the largest U.S. military presence in the region since the 1989 invasion of Panama. The scale and intensity of this buildup have fueled speculation that Washington is preparing for more direct action against Maduro’s regime.
Maduro, for his part, has flatly denied U.S. accusations that he is a cartel leader and dismissed Trump’s airspace closure as a "colonial threat" designed to undermine Venezuela’s "territorial integrity, aeronautical security and full sovereignty." After Trump’s announcement, the Venezuelan government struck back rhetorically, accusing the U.S. of seeking to destabilize the country and warning of the dangers of foreign intervention.
The diplomatic tension reached a new pitch following a reported phone call between Trump and Maduro on November 21, 2025. According to sources cited by The Guardian, Trump issued Maduro an ultimatum to immediately relinquish power. Maduro, however, refused, demanding a "global amnesty" for himself and his allies—hardly a sign of imminent capitulation.
Addressing the uncertainty surrounding these developments, Pope Leo criticized what he described as the shifting and sometimes contradictory signals coming from the Trump administration. "The voices that come from the United States, they change with a certain frequency," he observed, highlighting the lack of a consistent approach. He elaborated further during his flight back from Lebanon, saying, "On one hand, it seems there was a call between the two presidents. On the other hand, there is the danger, there is the possibility there will be some activity, some (military) operation." Leo’s comments underscored the confusion felt not just by observers, but also by those directly affected by the crisis.
For Pope Leo, the stakes are clear. "In these situations it is the people who suffer, not the authorities," he told reporters, reiterating the Catholic Church’s longstanding commitment to peace and the protection of vulnerable populations. The pontiff emphasized that the Church was "trying to find a way to calm the situation," advocating for dialogue as the only sustainable path forward. "If the U.S. wants to bring about change in Venezuela, then it should not use military force, but instead seek dialogue, including economic pressure," he said, as quoted by The Guardian.
The pope’s intervention comes at a time when the Trump administration is weighing its next moves. With the largest U.S. military buildup in the Caribbean in decades, and with more than 80 lives already lost in anti-drug operations, the prospect of full-scale military action has become a topic of heated debate in Washington and beyond. Some U.S. officials argue that Maduro’s alleged links to the drug trade and his role in driving mass migration northward justify robust intervention, while others warn that war would only deepen the region’s humanitarian crisis.
Maduro’s government, meanwhile, remains defiant. After refusing Trump’s ultimatum, Maduro insisted on amnesty for himself and his supporters—an offer that the U.S. has so far rejected. The Venezuelan leader’s grip on power, despite international isolation and domestic turmoil, remains firm for now, but the threat of military escalation hangs over the country like a storm cloud.
Pope Leo’s remarks also touched on broader themes of reconciliation and interfaith cooperation. During his six-day trip abroad, he met with a range of religious and political leaders, urging peace amid heightened tensions in the Middle East and calling for greater understanding between Christians and Muslims. He pointed to Lebanon as an example of how diverse communities can coexist, suggesting that such cooperation could serve as a model for Europe and the United States. In a subtle rebuke to anti-migrant activists, he warned against stoking "fears" of Islam and emphasized the Church’s commitment to helping those displaced by conflict and poverty.
Reflecting on his own unexpected rise to the papacy—he was elected in May 2025 after the death of Pope Francis—Leo described a sense of resignation and faith. "I resigned myself to the fact when I saw how things were going – I said, ‘This could be a reality’. I took a deep breath. I said, ‘Here we go, Lord, you’re in charge and you lead the way’," he told reporters, offering a rare glimpse into the personal side of the world’s newest spiritual leader.
Looking ahead, Leo revealed that he is considering future foreign trips, with Africa—possibly Algeria—on his itinerary. But for now, his focus remains on the crisis in Venezuela and the urgent need for restraint, dialogue, and compassion. As the world watches the standoff between Washington and Caracas, the pope’s call for peace and his critique of military solutions offer a timely reminder of the heavy cost of war—and the enduring hope that diplomacy might yet prevail.
The coming weeks will show whether Leo’s message finds a receptive audience in the corridors of power. For the millions caught in the crossfire of politics, economics, and ideology, his words may be one of the few sources of solace in an increasingly uncertain world.
