Overview
- Speaking to reporters on his flight from Lebanon, Pope Leo XIV said U.S. signals on Venezuela appear inconsistent and he sees a real risk of military action.
- He noted reports of a recent phone conversation between President Trump and President Nicolás Maduro while cautioning that the situation could still lead to an operation, even an invasion.
- The pope said the Vatican, working with church leadership, is trying to calm the confrontation with a focus on protecting the Venezuelan people.
- News outlets report an expanded U.S. military presence in the Caribbean, including strikes on vessels suspected of drug trafficking, adding to concerns about escalation.
- Past statements from Maduro criticizing Vatican mediation highlight uncertainty over whether an appeal for negotiations will be welcomed.