Panama’s Monsignor Ulloa: ‘Venezuela is Not Alone in the Midst of Pain and Uncertainty’

In a context marked by uncertainty and political tension in Venezuela following the capture of Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro by the United States, the Archbishop of Panama, Monsignor José Domingo Ulloa, delivered a message of closeness, comfort and hope to the Venezuelan people this Sunday, January 4, during his Sunday homily at Our Lady of Lourdes Parish.  During the Eucharistic celebration, Ulloa referred to the moment of “concern, uncertainty and pain” that the South American nation is going through and stressed that Venezuela does not face this critical stage of its history alone. 

“They are not alone. We feel close to them, we carry them in our prayers, and we walk beside them,” the prelate expressed, while assuring that the Panamanian Church accompanies Venezuelans spiritually and humanly, many of whom have found refuge in Panama.  The archbishop expressed his support for the call made by the Venezuelan bishops to live “more intensely the hope and fervent prayer for peace in our hearts and in society,” insisting on the rejection of any form of violence. 

In that regard, he urged that the decisions made in the midst of the crisis be geared towards the well-being of the people and not deepen the suffering of the population.  “May our hands open for encounter and mutual help, and may the decisions that are made always be for the well-being of our people,” Ulloa said, in a message that was directed at both political actors and the international community.

Hope in the Midst of Darkness

The leader of the Catholic Church in Panama emphasized that, even in adverse circumstances, faith cannot be displaced by fear or despair. “Even in the midst of trials, we do not renounce hope. We firmly believe that God never abandons his people,” he affirmed, stressing that violence and fear do not have the final say.  Ulloa emphasized that, even when everything seems dark, faith reminds us that “God continues to work, even in silence,” a reflection that takes on special relevance in light of recent events in Caracas and other Venezuelan cities, where bombings, explosions, and a general climate of confusion were reported following the US military operation that culminated in the capture of Maduro and his wife.

Panama, Land of Welcome

In his message, the archbishop placed special emphasis on the plight of the thousands of Venezuelans residing in Panama, many of whom were forced to flee their country in search of stability. “As a Church that journeys in Panama, a land that welcomes them today, we share their pain, their tears, and also their dreams,” he said.  He also made a plea for Venezuela, for its families, for those who have had to emigrate and for those who remain in the country “waiting for a different tomorrow, marked by justice, reconciliation and dignity.”