Maduro urges peace and national unity amid US tensions.
According to the website of the Telesur television network, the ceremony, held at the Miraflores Palace with the presence of Venezuelan and American priests, was held after Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro received a letter from a priest in Michigan, requesting the organization of this spiritual event to seek peace for the South American country.
Maduro stressed the value of spiritual support, stating that Venezuela has a “community of wise people” that he considers a gift from God.
The event brought together priests, civil and military officials, governors, and members of the Bolivarian National Armed Forces.
The Venezuelan president explained that the letter received from Michigan had asked Christian churches to join the priests of the two countries in a prayer service so that “Christ takes control of the situation and does not allow any American soldier to fire a shot at Venezuela.”
Maduro called the message a sign of solidarity that unites the religious communities of both countries; he also stressed the importance of the 40 million Latinos living in the United States, who serve as a spiritual and cultural bridge between the two nations.
Washington has deployed warships, a submarine, military aircraft, and troops to the Venezuelan coast since August under the pretext of fighting drug trafficking. The United States has also accused Maduro of leading a drug cartel, without any evidence.
The US military actions have been criticized by Russia, Mexico, Colombia, and Brazil, as well as by UN experts, who have described the raids by US military forces on suspected drug-trafficking vessels as “extrajudicial killings” that violate international law.
Trump recently said at a press conference from the White House about US action against Venezuela: “I do not rule out any possibility.”