{"id":2516744,"date":"2025-12-02T19:09:02","date_gmt":"2025-12-03T00:09:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/pope-leo-urges-trump-to-de-escalate-tensions-with-venezuela\/"},"modified":"2025-12-02T19:11:19","modified_gmt":"2025-12-03T00:11:19","slug":"pope-leo-urges-trump-to-de-escalate-tensions-with-venezuela","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/pope-leo-urges-trump-to-de-escalate-tensions-with-venezuela\/","title":{"rendered":"Pope Leo urges Trump to de-escalate tensions with Venezuela"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">18<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fpope-leo-urges-trump-to-de-escalate-tensions-with-venezuela%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2516744&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Pope Leo XIV has urged U.S. President Donald Trump too <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/biden-admin-bows-to-russia-cancels-deployment-of-war-ships\/\" title=\"Biden Admin Bows to Russia, Cancels Deployment of War Ships\">reduce tensions<\/a> with Venezuelan President Nicol\u00e1s Maduro by returning to dialog and relying on nonviolent pressure rather than military action. Speaking to reporters, the Pope expressed concern about the possibility of military escalation between the united States and Venezuela, highlighting the importance of diplomatic interaction, especially following a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/georgia-secretary-of-state-brad-raffenspergers-update-to-georgias-voting-machine-software-right-before-the-2020-election-was-unlawful-and-violates-any-certification-of-state-results\/\" title=\"Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger\u2019s Update to Georgia\u2019s Voting Machine Software Right Before the 2020 Election Was Unlawful and Violates Any Certification of State Results\">recent phone call<\/a> between Trump and Maduro. While Pope Leo advocated for dialogue and economic pressure, he acknowledged the fluctuating messages coming from the U.S. administration.<\/p>\n<p>This is part of the Pope&#8217;s ongoing criticisms of Trump&#8217;s policies, including past remarks on immigration. Meanwhile, Maduro has been skeptical of Vatican mediation efforts, previously condemning attempts to facilitate dialogue and accusing the Vatican of hostility toward his government. Despite his Catholic upbringing,Maduro has increasingly engaged with evangelical Protestant groups and maintains a public image infused with religious symbolism,including a painting of Jesus guiding him through turbulent times.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Pope Leo urges Trump to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/biden-response-to-putin-debate-challenge-shows-weakness-white-house-continues-to-deflect-amid-ramped-up-rhetoric-from-china-nk-and-russia\/\" title=\"Biden response to Putin debate challenge shows weakness, White House continues to deflect amid ramped up rhetoric from China, NK and Russia\">de-escalate tensions<\/a> with Venezuela and turn to dialogue<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2420414\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/pope-leo-xiv\/\">Pope Leo XIV<\/a> urged President <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/donald-trump\/\">Donald Trump<\/a> to de-escalate tensions with <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/venezuela\/\">Venezuelan<\/a> President Nicolas Maduro, saying he should return to dialogue and only use nonviolent pressure.<\/p>\n<p>Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Leo expressed concern about developments between the United States and Venezuela, fearing a military escalation between the two.<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/3904571\/steve-witkoff-jared-kushner-leave-kremlin-five-hours-negotiation-putin-russia\/\">Witkoff and Kushner leave Kremlin after nearly five hours of negotiation with Putin<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/3904097\/israel-syria-deal-demands-demilitarized-buffer-zone\/\">Israel open to Syria deal but demands &#8216;demilitarized buffer zone&#8217;<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/3903912\/pope-leo-speaking-trump-netanyahu-middle-east-peace-plan\/\">Pope Leo says he&#8217;s speaking with Trump and Netanyahu about Middle East peace plan<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Pope Leo XIV talks to reporters aboard an airplane as he returns from a six-day visit to Turkey and Lebanon, Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2025. (Alessandro Di Meo\/Pool Photo via AP)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>&ldquo;I believe it&rsquo;s better to look for ways of dialogue, perhaps pressure, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/more-chinese-nationals-illegally-entered-the-u-s-in-two-days-this-month-than-in-all-of-2021\/\" title=\"Chinese Nationals Illegally Enter U.S. Surpassing 2021 Total\">including economic pressure<\/a>, but looking for other ways to change, if that&rsquo;s what the United States wants to do,&rdquo; the pope said.<\/p>\n<p>He wasn&rsquo;t entirely negative, however, noting with promise that Trump and Maduro had spoken on the phone last week.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;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 [military] activity,&rdquo; Leo continued. &ldquo;The voices that come from the United States, they change with a certain frequency.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>The comments are the latest from the first American pope, who has been critical of Trump, with previous comments targeting him over his stance on immigration.<\/p>\n<p>Maduro may not be as welcoming toward Leo&rsquo;s comments as he has been, having been harshly critical of Vatican efforts to facilitate dialogue in the past. In June 2021, Maduro harshly denounced a letter from Vatican Secretary of State Pietro Parolin, <span style=\"box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;\">which<\/span> called for dialogue to resolve the country&rsquo;s problems, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.catholicnewsagency.com\/news\/248486\/venezuelan-president-rejects-vatican-letter-calling-for-dialogue\">according to<\/a> the&nbsp;Catholic News Agency.<\/p>\n<p>Maduro said the letter &ldquo;was a compendium of hatred, poison, quarrelling, cynicism, it&rsquo;s ridiculous; a letter truly full of hatred, a national disaster, the letter from Pietro Parolin.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Shortly after he took power, Maduro bashed the Catholic Church for objecting to the government&rsquo;s use of a poem manipulating the Lord&rsquo;s Prayer to include &ldquo;Our Ch&aacute;vez,&rdquo; in the process, accusing the Vatican of trying to &ldquo;overthrow&rdquo; Ch&aacute;vez during his lifetime.<\/p>\n<p>In contrast to many other authoritarian leaders of a left-wing bent, Maduro and his predecessor, Hugo Ch&aacute;vez, have openly embraced Christianity. Ch&aacute;vez was more straightforwardly Catholic, citing church beliefs to justify his policies, and even spoke of repeatedly trying to convert fellow socialist leader Fidel Castro.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/3903985\/trump-cabinet-meeting-venezuela-land-strikes-very-soon\/\">VENEZUELA LAND STRIKES WILL START &lsquo;VERY SOON,&rsquo; TRUMP SAYS AT FINAL CABINET MEETING OF THE YEAR<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Maduro has spoken of his Catholic upbringing, but has a more <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >eclectic public spiritual life<\/a>. In recent years, he has leaned away from Catholicism and more toward Protestantism, focusing on major <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2024\/02\/07\/1226975641\/venezuela-election-maduro-evangelical-vote\">outreach efforts to evangelicals<\/a>. He has repeatedly appeared alongside Protestant pastors during prayer sessions on national television and even allowed some freedom for evangelical parties while banning other opposition parties.<\/p>\n<p>Maduro has a painting of Jesus Christ guiding him, like the captain of a ship in stormy waters, hanging in his home.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"es\" dir=\"ltr\">Miren este cuadro que me regalaron&hellip; Lo tengo desde 2022 aqu&iacute; en la casa&hellip; Siempre con Cristo redentor&hellip; Unamos nuestras oraciones por Venezuela&hellip; <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/N82TyOUk7D\">pic.twitter.com\/N82TyOUk7D<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<p>&mdash; Nicol&aacute;s Maduro (@NicolasMaduro) <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/NicolasMaduro\/status\/1764406346143732121?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">March 3, 2024<\/a><script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script> <\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Pope Leo urges Trump to ease Venezuela tensions peacefully<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2653,"featured_media":2516745,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/AP25336581641561_e666bd.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[21615,55381,3634,50813],"class_list":["post-2516744","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-de-escalation","tag-pope-leo","tag-trump","tag-venezuela-2"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/AP25336581641561_e666bd.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2516744","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2653"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2516744"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2516744\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2516749,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2516744\/revisions\/2516749"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2516745"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2516744"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2516744"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2516744"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}