Pope Leo sends aid to earthquake-struck Venezuela

By James Blears and Francesca Merlo 

More than 150 people are reported dead, with many more injured and countless others believed to be trapped after two powerful earthquakes struck Venezuela overnight.

As rescue efforts continue and the full scale of the disaster begins to emerge, Pope Leo XIV has sent an initial emergency donation of one hundred thousand euros through the Apostolic Almoner’s Office.

The Holy See says the aid, coordinated with the Apostolic Nuncio to Venezuela, Archbishop Alberto Ortega Martín, and the Archbishop of Caracas, Archbishop Raúl Biord Castillo, is only a first step, with further assistance to follow in response to the needs identified by the local Church.

The Pope’s contribution comes as Catholic communities across the country open parish buildings to shelter displaced families and organize emergency assistance through local Caritas networks.

Rescue teams are searching scores of collapsed buildings following Wednesday evening’s earthquakes, which measured 7.2 and 7.5 in magnitude.

Caracas’ Simón Bolívar International Airport remains closed, while the worst devastation has been reported in the coastal state of La Guaira, north of the capital, where dozens of buildings have collapsed.

Authorities say at least 164 people have been killed and nearly a thousand injured, though officials warn the toll is expected to rise as rescuers continue to dig through the rubble. More than twenty aftershocks have rattled the region, with tremors felt as far away as Colombia.

President Delcy Rodríguez has declared a national state of disaster and emergency, describing La Guaira as a “disaster zone.”

Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello has urged residents to remain outdoors and away from damaged buildings as engineers assess the stability of critical infrastructure.

The damage is widespread and severe. Churches, including Caracas Cathedral and several parish churches, have suffered structural damage, while seminaries and other Church buildings have also been affected.

Even so, Church leaders continue to provide shelter, food and pastoral care to those who have lost their homes.

International assistance is beginning to arrive from across the Americas and beyond, as search-and-rescue teams race against time in the hope of finding more survivors beneath the rubble.

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