Pope Leo, the first American pontiff, has issued a direct plea to US President Donald Trump, urging him to abandon any consideration of using military force to depose Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. The Pope insisted that diplomatic efforts and economic pressure are the preferred routes to achieving political change in the South American nation.
The pontiff made his remarks to reporters aboard the papal plane as he returned on Tuesday from his first international tour, which included visits to Turkey and Lebanon.
The Call for Dialogue
Asked about the ongoing tensions and President Trump’s public threats to forcibly remove the socialist leader, Pope Leo firmly advocated for non-violent solutions.
”It is better to search for ways of dialogue, or perhaps pressure, including economic pressure,” the Pope stated.
He further suggested that Washington should explore alternatives if its goal is regime change:
”If that is what they want to do in the United States,” he added, they should “search for other ways” than military action.
US Targets Drug Traffickers
The Trump administration has intensified its campaign against Caracas, justifying its actions by linking President Maduro to the supply of illegal drugs entering the United States. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed during a cabinet meeting on Tuesday that while US forces have recently paused certain strike operations against alleged drug boats, the administration remains committed to the overall effort.
Maduro, for his part, has fiercely denied any involvement in the illegal drug trade and has framed the US actions—which include numerous strikes on boats that have reportedly killed over 80 people—as an attempt to seize Venezuela’s oil resources.
Amid the heightened tensions, the Venezuelan President held a rally in Caracas this week where he claimed his nation was ready to defend itself. He accused the US of waging “psychological terrorism” against the country.
Meanwhile, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed that all options remain open following a meeting between President Trump and his national security team, stating: “There’s many options at the president’s disposal that are on the table—and I’ll let him speak on those.”
