Pope Leo XIV has sent an initial emergency donation of €100,000 to Venezuela following two powerful earthquakes that struck the country overnight, killing at least 164 people and leaving widespread destruction. The Holy See confirmed the aid is being sent through the Apostolic Almoner’s Office and coordinated with Apostolic Nuncio Archbishop Alberto Ortega Martín and Archbishop of Caracas Raúl Biord Castillo.
Vatican officials say this is only a first step, with more assistance to follow based on needs identified by the local Church.The twin quakes, measuring 7.2 and 7.5 in magnitude, hit Wednesday evening. More than 150 people are confirmed dead, nearly a thousand injured, and many remain trapped under rubble as rescue teams work around the clock.
The worst damage has been reported in the coastal state of La Guaira, north of Caracas, where dozens of buildings collapsed. Caracas’ Simón Bolívar International Airport remains closed. 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, calling La Guaira a “disaster zone.”
Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello urged residents to stay outdoors and away from damaged structures while engineers assess critical infrastructure. Officials warn the death toll is expected to rise as rescuers dig through collapsed buildings.The Church has also suffered significant damage. Caracas Cathedral, several parish churches, seminaries, and other Church buildings were structurally impacted.
Despite this, Catholic communities across Venezuela have opened parish halls to shelter displaced families. Local Caritas networks are organizing emergency aid, providing food, water, and pastoral care to those who lost homes.International assistance is beginning to arrive from across the Americas and beyond. Search-and-rescue teams continue racing against time to find survivors beneath the rubble, while the Pope’s donation signals the Vatican’s solidarity with the Venezuelan people in this crisis.