Is Pope Leo XIV Weak on Venezuela — or Faithful to Catholic Teaching?
The capture of Nicolás Maduro by U.S. forces has sent shockwaves through international politics. World leaders are divided, international bodies are alarmed, and even within the United States the debate is fierce. Was this a long-overdue act of justice against a brutal tyrant, or a dangerous breach of international law? In the middle of that storm stands Pope Leo XIV. Some Catholics are frustrated by his response. Others see it as prudent. Many are unsure what to make of it at all. In a new long-form article on Catholic Unscripted, I take a careful, unsentimental look at what Pope Leo actually said, what he deliberately did not say, and how his words compare with the reactions of governments, the United Nations, and major global powers. The piece also examines a largely overlooked tension in the American debate: how can leaders now claim Maduro’s capture was unlawful when previous U.S. administrations publicly offered tens of millions of dollars for information leading to his arrest...