Venezuela: Archbishop calls for rebuilding through an “encounter with God and with our brothers and sisters”
In an interview with Press Crux, Archbishop Ulises Gutiérrez proposes prayer, reconciliation, and solidarity as paths toward rebuilding Venezuela, while calling for social and democratic safeguards and support for the most vulnerable families.
INTERVIEW | CHURCH IN VENEZUELA
Ana Paula Morales (Poli)
10/25/20265 min read
Caption: Archbishop Ulises Gutiérrez Reyes of Ciudad Bolívar, interviewed by Ana Paula Morales for Press Crux. Illustrative composition created with artificial intelligence using his photograph; the background is not a documentary photograph of the earthquake.
Ciudad Bolívar, Venezuela.— Archbishop Ulises Gutiérrez Reyes of Ciudad Bolívar called for rebuilding Venezuela through reconciliation, solidarity, and an encounter with God, with concrete actions that address families’ needs and restore the country’s institutions. In an interview with Press Crux, he highlighted the service of Caritas, proposed a national education pact, and called for the continued release of political prisoners.
“We are calling on the people, on all of Venezuela, to enter into a spirit of prayer, reconciliation, encounter, and building through that encounter with God and with our brothers and sisters,” he said. For the archbishop, this path offers a horizon for the country: “Venezuela is called to become that beautiful nation that God has intended for this wonderful country.”
His remarks follow the publication on October 23 of the pastoral exhortation “Lord, in your light we see light”, at the conclusion of the Venezuelan bishops’ 126th Ordinary Plenary Assembly. In the document, the bishops propose a national agreement, the restoration of democratic safeguards, and stronger assistance for the most vulnerable.
The national reconstruction Archbishop Gutiérrez calls for must deliver social and democratic safeguards: access to healthcare and quality education, decent wages, functioning basic services, and support for the most vulnerable families. He also calls for the release of political prisoners, free and transparent elections, and the restoration of institutions that protect Venezuelans’ fundamental rights.
“We have been moving toward a precipice as a country,” he warned, explaining the urgency of this task. His assessment encompasses different dimensions of national life: “The situation is worsening in every sphere: morally, politically, and economically.” In response, he proposes a national agreement, an education pact, and stronger support for Caritas and civil society organizations assisting the population, alongside a call to prayer and reconciliation.
Caritas, “God’s tender care” for Venezuelans
Among the responses to people’s needs, the archbishop highlighted the work of Caritas and called for strengthening both its service and that of civil society organizations helping local communities. “For us, Caritas is fundamental; it is the organization that brings God’s tender care to the Venezuelan people,” he said.
He proposes supporting and expanding these initiatives so they can continue accompanying those most in need. The bishops’ exhortation sets out concrete actions: soup kitchens, community kitchens, medical outreach days, and assistance programs for older people and children suffering from malnutrition.
The archbishop also recognizes signs he believes must be strengthened: the release of political prisoners, certain advances in freedom of expression, and a revival in economic activity. He insists, however, that these gains must be consolidated and benefit the population.
The wounds of family separation
One of his greatest concerns is the suffering caused by emigration. His account includes children who remain in their grandparents’ care when their parents leave, as well as older people left behind when other family members depart Venezuela. The archbishop spoke of “family grief over the wrenching separation caused by the diaspora” and summed up its consequences: “All of this has been a tragedy for the entire country.”
The scale of displacement is documented by UNHCR, whose Brazil webpage, updated in August 2026, reports nearly 7.9 million Venezuelan refugees and migrants worldwide. The agency notes that, although some people return spontaneously, departures to other countries also continue.
For Archbishop Gutiérrez, addressing these wounds is part of rebuilding the social fabric. The response must reach young people as well as children and older adults suffering the consequences of family separation and deteriorating living conditions.
Education and healthcare to rebuild the future
The archbishop believes the education system needs “a 180-degree turnaround.” Insufficient teachers’ salaries, students dropping out, and inadequate facilities undermine opportunities for children and young people. He therefore proposes a national education pact to improve teaching conditions from primary and secondary schools through to universities.
Regarding healthcare, he denounced shortages of medical supplies, low pay for staff, and deteriorating public hospitals. Recalling a recent visit to a private facility, he expressed his wish that its resources were also available to those who depend on public healthcare: “That is how we would like all hospitals serving the population to be, especially those serving the poorest.”
These difficulties are compounded by failures in the electricity system. According to his account, power cuts in cities in the country’s interior can last six, eight, ten, or even twelve hours, affecting food preservation and family life. The tropical heat, he explained, makes it particularly difficult to go for so many hours without ventilation and other services that depend on electricity.
The archbishop also criticized workers’ dependence on bonuses that are excluded from the calculation of their employment benefits. According to Bloomberg Línea’s October 8 report, the statutory minimum wage remained fixed at 130 bolívares, unchanged since March 2022, while the so-called comprehensive minimum income reached $240 through bonuses. As the EFE news agency has explained, those bonuses do not count toward employment benefits.
Although he acknowledged an increase in oil production, Archbishop Gutiérrez believes its benefits are still insufficiently reflected in the services people receive. “The economy must serve the common good,” he said.
The earthquakes deepened people’s needs
The archbishop said the June 24 earthquakes had deepened impoverishment and increased the needs of affected communities. The United States Geological Survey, or USGS, records two earthquakes of magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 that struck northern Venezuela.
Expressing concern about missing people and the scale of the loss of life, Archbishop Gutiérrez said: “People are already talking about 53,000.” That figure requires a distinction between the official toll and estimates: according to a New York Times report republished by GV Wire, the government reported 6,509 deaths, while a USGS statistical estimate puts the potential death toll at 53,000. The latter calculation is not a confirmed count of victims.
The bishops’ exhortation thanks local residents, Caritas, other Churches, civil society organizations, and rescue workers for their assistance after the earthquakes. It also calls for an assessment of construction quality and public oversight to prevent further loss of life.
Freedom and safeguards for reconciliation
Archbishop Gutiérrez called for the continued release of civilian and military political prisoners. While acknowledging releases, he warned that detentions persist: “Some leave, while others enter the prisons,” he said, specifying that new detentions are occurring in smaller numbers.
Foro Penal’s figures as of October 5, 2026, recorded 322 political prisoners: 182 civilians and 140 military personnel. Of that total, 170 had not been convicted. The archbishop also called for greater protection for journalists and media outlets, arguing that existing openings have yet to translate into full freedom of expression.
Institutionally, he supports free and transparent elections, an impartial National Electoral Council, and an independent Supreme Court of Justice. Speaking in a personal capacity, he also called for María Corina Machado to be allowed to return and questioned the absence of representatives of her political movement from the dialogue.
According to Reuters’ October 23 report, acting President Delcy Rodríguez is holding US-backed talks with an opposition faction that excludes Machado. Rodríguez assumed power after US forces captured Nicolás Maduro in January. At the time of that report, no election date had been set.
For the archbishop, the response to these difficulties must open a path of participation and encounter that allows Venezuelans to work for their country. The reconstruction he proposes brings together the restoration of rights and basic services with solidarity and reconciliation among people.
“This is a wonderful path that we must walk,” he said.
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