On January 3, 2026, President Nicholas Maduro of Venezuela was captured by United States forces from his Caracas home. He is now under arrest in the United States on counts of Narco-terrorism.
Under Venezuela’s socialist regime, the economy has collapsed, and millions of Venezuelans have left the country due to economic hardship. Despite having massive oil reserves, Venezuela is massively in debt, and is suffering from inflation. Government spending and mismanagement have impoverished a wealthy nation. This economic instability made Maduro unpopular, and it is widely regarded that he lost his re-election, but declared himself the winner regardless.
As such, it is no surprise that many Venezuelans in and out of the country rejoiced when the United States intervened. It is easy to see why, Maduro had led his country into disaster. At the end of the day, it is easy to frame Venezuela’s socialist government as a leech on the Venezuelan body that the U.S. has freed it from.
Yet, the toppling of a tyrant is not simple business. Many on the Right in the U.S. see Maduro’s capture as the triumph of good over evil, the U.S. being a capitalist hero saving those under socialism, and spreading freedom as the founders and their successors intended. Additionally, the fall of Maduro means the U.S.’ enemies, Russia, China, and Iran, have lost their greatest supporter in the West.
On the other hand, many on the Left decry the capture of Maduro, seeing the sovereignty of Venezuela being violated. It is conceded that Maduro was bad, but what business does the U.S. have to do with Venezuela? Maduro was toppled without Congressional support, and the enemies of the U.S. worldwide now have propaganda fodder to muster their strength to protect from U.S. aggression and intervention.
Additionally, the official story is that Maduro was captured due to his influence in the drug trade. By this line of reasoning, what is to stop the U.S. from removing the president of Mexico, or of any leader in South America? By conceding that the United States can unilaterally depose the rulers of any nation we have lifted the U.S. above all nations, claiming world dominion, something we accuse our enemies of desiring.
This situation shows that there is some sort of need for a worldwide union of nations. Now, I do not place much hope in the United Nations, which has shown itself to be inefficient, and more akin to the tower of Babel then a table of brothers.
In the medieval world, the pope was the father of nations, calling nations together to fight common enemies and settle disputes among brothers. The pope could declare a corrupt leader deposed, and often acted for the sake of the oppressed citizens of nations. Yet, the West rejected God’s role in the union and peace of nations. First St. Peter was rejected at the Reformation, and only later, after centuries of separation, and the amnesia that follows from it, did the West renounced the kingship of Christ.
The absence of Christ from politics creates a power vacuum. In the absence of a proper center of worldwide unity, the United States has anointed itself king of the Western Hemisphere by declaring that it can depose rulers it sees as unjust. I concede that Maduro is an unjust leader who turned a nation of wealth into a crater of misery. I do not concede that the United States should have taken it upon itself to interfere in this matter.
We as Americans are blessed with power, but we cannot let our power fill us with pride. I remember the words of the prophet Ezekiel to the wealthy and powerful King of Tyre,
“‘In the pride of your heart you say, “I am a god; I sit on the throne of a god in the heart of the seas.” But you are a mere mortal and not a god, though you think you are as wise as a god (Ezek 28:2).
By claiming to be the judge of nations, we place ourself in the place of God and His vicar. We should not seek to fill the void of God that we have created with our military might, lest we fall prey to the fate of Tyre.
It is foolish to think that the United States captured Maduro purely out of love and virtue. Venezuelas mishandled oil reserves now lie in the hands of the U.S. and the companies that fund her. Certainly, who can doubt, especially due to Venezuela’s strategic location, that the U.S. will appoint a new leader who is friendly to the States and her desire for oil? I fear, that the people of Venezuela will again, be governed by men who do not have their best interests in mind. Again, the wealth of their resources will be taken and given to another, instead of assisting them to build their own wealth and economy.
Nevertheless, it is hard to say what will happen, though the Lord is not recognized by presidents on earth, He is still the Lord of History, King of Providence, and we entrust these events to his care. With his vicar, Pope Leo XIV we echo,
The good of the beloved Venezuelan people must prevail over every other consideration. This must lead to the overcoming of violence, and to the pursuit of paths of justice and peace, guaranteeing the sovereignty of the country, ensuring the rule of law enshrined in its Constitution, respecting the human and civil rights of each and every person, and working together to build a peaceful future of cooperation, stability and harmony, with special attention to the poorest who are suffering because of the difficult economic situation. I pray for all this, and I invite you to pray too, entrusting our prayer to the intercession of Our Lady of Coromoto, and to Saints José Gregorio Hernández and Carmen Rendiles.1
1 Pope Leo XIV, Angelus, 2nd Sunday in the Season of Christmas, 4 January 2026
