{"id":101508,"date":"2026-07-31T04:08:47","date_gmt":"2026-07-31T04:08:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/christianpure.com\/?p=101508"},"modified":"2026-07-31T04:08:47","modified_gmt":"2026-07-31T04:08:47","slug":"church-in-venezuela-to-remain-at-the-side-of-the-suffering-following-earthquakes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/christianpure.com\/ar\/learn\/church-in-venezuela-to-remain-at-the-side-of-the-suffering-following-earthquakes\/","title":{"rendered":"Church in Venezuela to \u2018remain at the side of the suffering\u2019 following earthquakes"},"content":{"rendered":"

One month after the devastating earthquakes in Venezuela, the Catholic Church is focused on \u201cremaining at the side of the suffering,\u201d according to Father Ricardo Guill\u00e9n, episcopal vicar for pastoral ministry of the Archdiocese of Caracas.<\/p>\n

In an interview with the archdiocesan press office, the priest explained how \u201cphysical presence, active listening, and organized charity\u201d have been the cornerstones of the Church\u2019s response to the tragedy, which claimed the lives of thousands of people and severely affected tens of thousands more.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur immediate priority was to be present where the suffering was most acute; we showed up and shared close up with the vulnerability of our people,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

From the very first hours following the earthquakes, he continued, the Church understood that this accompaniment \u201ccould not take place from a distance\u201d but rather \u201crequired being physically present in the places of greatest uncertainty to support those who had lost everything.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cFor this reason, we deployed directly to the areas most critical to the emergency,\u201d he added. Consecrated personnel and lay volunteers assessed the scale of the disaster, offering special support to people at the morgues \u201cto embrace and share in the families\u2019 painful silence\u201d and bringing the comfort of the sacraments.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn each of those places, our mission was simply to be present, to listen, and not to leave anyone alone,\u201d Guill\u00e9n added.<\/p>\n

\u2018God never abandons us\u2019<\/h2>\n

After highlighting \u201cthe profound vocation of service and solidarity,\u201d which he said especially characterizes the new generations of Venezuelans and which enabled the enormous logistical response to the emergency, the episcopal vicar noted that it is precisely \u201cin closeness and compassion\u201d that God\u2019s presence is revealed amid so much pain.<\/p>\n

Beyond providing material aid, the Catholic Church\u2019s \u201cfundamental mission\u201d was to \u201cbe a living presence of the Lord and sustain the faith where suffering was the greatest,\u201d regardless of the difficulties posed by the earthquakes. Thus, the Church \u201chad to take to the streets,\u201d transforming plazas, parks, and sports fields into \u201copen-air altars\u201d for religious services and encouraging the most popular devotions in Caracas and La Guaira.<\/p>\n

\u201cOne of the most moving services was accompanying people in their grief,\u201d he said. \u201cWe priests were present in morgues, hospitals, and cemeteries in Caracas and La Guaira, supporting those who were suffering, often offering nothing more than a hug, weeping with those who wept, praying together, or maintaining a respectful silence in the face of such immense pain.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBringing grace and comfort to places where suffering reigned was living proof that God never abandons us,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n

What are lessons the earthquakes taught the Church?<\/h2>\n

Guill\u00e9n emphasized that \u201cthe earthquake left deep scars, but it also revealed the immense spiritual and solidarity reserves of our people.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cFar from plunging us into despair, this tragedy becomes an urgent call to make fraternity a permanent way of life, oriented toward the common good and the recognition of every person\u2019s dignity,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

He remarked that \u201ctrue consolation requires neither explanations nor grand speeches,\u201d but rather manifests itself \u201cin quiet presence, in an outstretched hand, in attentive listening that takes in the pain, and in respectful silence that helps heal the wounds of the soul.\u201d<\/p>\n

The earthquakes \u201cleave us with profound lessons\u201d for the Church in Venezuela and have confronted the entire country with \u201cthe urgent need to organize ourselves better in the face of contingencies of this magnitude,\u201d he said. In that sense, he continued, C\u00e1ritas must strengthen itself and become \u201ca true network of solidarity capable of reaching even the most remote areas\u201d of Venezuela. <\/p>\n

\u201cUltimately, this time confirms for us that the faith lived out is authenticated through charity and tangible dedication to the most vulnerable,\u201d Guill\u00e9n said.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor this reason, the Church in Caracas reaffirms its unwavering commitment to continue accompanying those affected. We are not pulling out now that the immediate phase of the emergency has ended; we will be there for the long road of rebuilding society and the integral healing of our people\u2019s lives,\u201d he pledged.<\/p>\n

\u0647\u0630\u0647 \u0627\u0644\u0642\u0635\u0629 \u0646\u064f\u0634\u0631\u062a \u0644\u0623\u0648\u0644 \u0645\u0631\u0629<\/a> \u0628\u0642\u0644\u0645 ACI Prensa\u060c \u0627\u0644\u062e\u062f\u0645\u0629 \u0627\u0644\u0634\u0642\u064a\u0642\u0629 \u0628\u0627\u0644\u0644\u063a\u0629 \u0627\u0644\u0625\u0633\u0628\u0627\u0646\u064a\u0629 \u0644\u0648\u0643\u0627\u0644\u0629 EWTN News. \u062a\u0645\u062a \u062a\u0631\u062c\u0645\u062a\u0647\u0627 \u0648\u062a\u0643\u064a\u064a\u0641\u0647\u0627 \u0628\u0648\u0627\u0633\u0637\u0629 EWTN News English.<\/em><\/p>\n

https:\/\/www.ewtnnews.com\/world\/americas\/church-in-venezuela-to-remain-at-the-side-of-the-suffering-following-earthquakes<\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

One month after the devastating earthquakes in Venezuela, the Catholic Church is focused on \u201cremaining at the side of the suffering,\u201d according to Father Ricardo Guill\u00e9n, episcopal vicar for pastoral ministry of the Archdiocese of Caracas. In an interview with the archdiocesan press office, the priest explained how \u201cphysical presence, active listening, and organized charity\u201d […]<\/p>","protected":false},"author":11,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_wpcom_ai_launchpad_first_post":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"{title}\n\n{excerpt}\n\n{url}","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"_wpas_customize_per_network":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[100],"tags":[],"series":[],"class_list":["post-101508","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-christian-news"],"mb":[],"acf":[],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":99698,"url":"https:\/\/christianpure.com\/ar\/learn\/venezuela-earthquakes-aftermath-church-focusing-on-burials-aid-church-repairs\/","url_meta":{"origin":101508,"position":0},"title":"Venezuela earthquakes aftermath: Church focusing on burials, aid, church repairs","author":"Christian Pure Team","date":"\u064a\u0648\u0644\u064a\u0648 25, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"The Archdiocese of Caracas has presented a report on the Church\u2019s response following the double earthquake that struck Venezuela a month ago. At a July 22 press conference, Archbishop Ra\u00fal Biord noted that the Church \u201chas responded promptly\u201d to the task of assisting those most affected.More than 5,000 people died\u2026","rel":"","context":"\u0641\u064a "Christian News"","block_context":{"text":"Christian News","link":"https:\/\/christianpure.com\/ar\/learn\/category\/christian-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":96806,"url":"https:\/\/christianpure.com\/ar\/learn\/caritas-venezuela-adds-recovery-component-to-ongoing-relief-efforts\/","url_meta":{"origin":101508,"position":1},"title":"Caritas Venezuela adds recovery component to ongoing relief efforts","author":"Christian Pure Team","date":"\u064a\u0648\u0644\u064a\u0648 23, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"In the aftermath of the devastating earthquakes that struck the country, Caritas Venezuela, the social services arm of the Catholic Church in Venezuela, issued an updated bulletin in which it noted that, at this stage, \u201cthe immediate emergency begins to overlap with the first steps toward recovery.\u201d The organization continues\u2026","rel":"","context":"\u0641\u064a "Christian News"","block_context":{"text":"Christian News","link":"https:\/\/christianpure.com\/ar\/learn\/category\/christian-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":73536,"url":"https:\/\/christianpure.com\/ar\/learn\/church-in-venezuela-could-undergo-more-persecution-in-2026-experts-say\/","url_meta":{"origin":101508,"position":2},"title":"Church in Venezuela could undergo more persecution in 2026, experts say","author":"Christian Pure Team","date":"\u064a\u0648\u0644\u064a\u0648 27, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Caracas skyline. | Credit: Olga Berrios, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons Jan 1, 2026 \/ 10:00 am (CNA). 2026 dawned in Venezuela in an atmosphere of ambivalence: sorrows and joys, tensions and consolations, and more questions than certainties. The work of the Catholic Church goes on within the country\u2019s\u2026","rel":"","context":"\u0641\u064a "Christian News"","block_context":{"text":"Christian News","link":"https:\/\/christianpure.com\/ar\/learn\/category\/christian-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Church in Venezuela could undergo more persecution in 2026, experts say","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/christianpure.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Church-in-Venezuela-could-undergo-more-persecution-in-2026-experts-say.jpg?fit=1200%2C900&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/christianpure.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Church-in-Venezuela-could-undergo-more-persecution-in-2026-experts-say.jpg?fit=1200%2C900&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/christianpure.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Church-in-Venezuela-could-undergo-more-persecution-in-2026-experts-say.jpg?fit=1200%2C900&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/christianpure.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Church-in-Venezuela-could-undergo-more-persecution-in-2026-experts-say.jpg?fit=1200%2C900&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/christianpure.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Church-in-Venezuela-could-undergo-more-persecution-in-2026-experts-say.jpg?fit=1200%2C900&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":68252,"url":"https:\/\/christianpure.com\/ar\/learn\/italian-basilica-of-st-benedict-reopens-9-years-after-it-was-destroyed-by-earthquake\/","url_meta":{"origin":101508,"position":3},"title":"Italian Basilica of St. Benedict reopens 9 years after it was destroyed by earthquake","author":"Christian Pure Team","date":"\u062f\u064a\u0633\u0645\u0628\u0631 27, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"The outside of the reconstructed Basilica of St. Benedict in Norcia, Italy, is lit up with lights in celebration of its reopening on Oct. 30, 2025. \/ Credit: Archdiocese of Spoleto-Norcia Rome Newsroom, Nov 3, 2025 \/ 10:00 am (CNA). 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After years of excavation work, the leader of an archeological expedition at the Church of St. Nicholas in Demre, Turkey, announced this week that her\u2026","rel":"","context":"\u0641\u064a "Christian News"","block_context":{"text":"Christian News","link":"https:\/\/christianpure.com\/ar\/learn\/category\/christian-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/christianpure.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/1733489142_jaroslav-cermak-1831-1878-sv.-mikulas.jpg?fit=900%2C600&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/christianpure.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/1733489142_jaroslav-cermak-1831-1878-sv.-mikulas.jpg?fit=900%2C600&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/christianpure.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/1733489142_jaroslav-cermak-1831-1878-sv.-mikulas.jpg?fit=900%2C600&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/christianpure.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/1733489142_jaroslav-cermak-1831-1878-sv.-mikulas.jpg?fit=900%2C600&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":74990,"url":"https:\/\/christianpure.com\/ar\/learn\/archbishop-hebda-calls-for-hope-healing-as-community-suffers-heaviness-after-shooting\/","url_meta":{"origin":101508,"position":5},"title":"Archbishop Hebda calls for hope, healing as community suffers \u2018heaviness\u2019 after shooting","author":"Christian Pure Team","date":"\u064a\u0646\u0627\u064a\u0631 23, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Archbishop Hebda speaks to EWTN News in August 2025. | Credit: \u201cEWTN News Nightly\u201d\/Screenshot Jan 13, 2026 \/ 13:11 pm (CNA). 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