The bishops of Venezuela have called for free and transparent elections, independence for the country’s main electoral and judicial institutions, and the repeal of laws restricting the activities of non-governmental organisations (NGOs). In a pastoral exhortation published on 23 October 2026, at the conclusion of the 126th Ordinary Plenary Assembly of the Venezuelan Episcopal Conference, and sent to Aid to the Church in Need (ACN), the bishops state that the nation is traversing “one of the most complex periods in its history” and underscore “the urgent need for the comprehensive reconstruction of the nation”.
The document, titled “Lord, in your light we see light”, was issued during a moment of profound political realignment. In January 2026, Nicolás Maduro was detained during an operation by US forces and transferred to the United States. The then Vice-President, Delcy Rodríguez, assumed the interim presidency, indicating that elections will be conducted and opening institutional discussions, although a formal timetable and election date remain unannounced. This unfolds alongside the return of opposition leader María Corina Machado on the night of 25 October, following nearly ten months abroad.
Free elections and independent institutions demanded by the bishops of Venezuela
The episcopate warns that the national political climate continues to deteriorate under “polarisation, a lack of institutional integrity and restrictions on democratic guarantees”. Consequently, they present an explicit demand:
“The country requires free and transparent elections, with an impartial National Electoral Council (CNE) and an independent Supreme Court of Justice (TSJ), so that due process is guaranteed, disqualifications are brought to an end, and the political rights of all citizens are respected”.
The exhortation also highlights the status of civilian and military political prisoners, describing recent releases as positive signs while insisting that the process “must continue so that no one is detained for thinking differently”. They acknowledge other positive developments, such as “greater freedom of expression for the mass media”, a reduction in road checkpoints previously used for extortion, and the gradual reactivation of the oil sector, while reiterating that “many actions still need to be taken to restore citizens’ rights”.
Repeal of restrictive NGO laws amid earthquake crisis
A central appeal in the exhortation concerns civil society organisations responding to the devastating earthquakes of 24 June 2026, which claimed thousands of lives and caused widespread destruction across several regions:
“The repeal of laws restricting the activities of NGOs, so that they can become fully involved in efforts to provide better assistance to those affected by the recent earthquakes”.
“The response to the crisis requires the joint efforts of the government and civil society”.
The bishops point out that the natural disaster struck a population already enduring widespread impoverishment, human rights violations, healthcare collapse, educational decline, loss of purchasing power, and “children being left unprotected, young people losing hope, and older people being neglected”. In response, ACN deployed emergency aid, sent an international delegation to assess local needs, and is actively funding the reconstruction of damaged pastoral facilities. The bishops expressed gratitude for the relief mobilized by local communities, Caritas, sister Churches, NGOs, and rescue teams, while calling for comprehensive structural and soil assessments to prevent future casualties.
A national pact and ethical reconstruction
To overcome entrenched political divisions, the Church calls upon political, business, academic, and civic leaders to unite behind “a national agreement founded on truth, forgiveness, justice and reconciliation”. The prelados conclude with an open appeal to the nation:
“We call on all Venezuelans to join us in a major national reconstruction plan: an inclusive, democratic and ethical path that will lead us towards lasting peace”.