In a powerful message to a nation weary from prolonged crisis, a newly appointed bishop of Caracas has pointed to the resurrection of Christ as the enduring source of hope and resilience for the Venezuelan people.
Bishop José Dionisio Gómez, recently named an auxiliary bishop of Caracas by Pope Leo XIV, emphasized that the certainty of the Lord’s triumph over sin and death provides the strength to face ongoing hardships. “In Venezuela, we have the hope of rising again at every moment in the face of every suffering and obstacle that confronts us,” Gómez stated in an interview with ACI Prensa.
He framed the Christian call as a daily commitment: “To rise with Christ is to strive to be better people and better witnesses to his resurrection.” The bishop highlighted humanity’s proven capacity, through God’s grace and solidarity, to overcome profound suffering caused by wars, pandemics, and oppression.
A Nation Bearing the Marks of the Passion
Reflecting on Venezuela’s deep wounds, Bishop Gómez, who also serves as rector of the St. Rose of Lima seminary, observed that “all Venezuelans bear signs of Christ’s passion.” He cited the widespread experiences of imprisonment, forced exile, crippling poverty, and the pain of witnessing others’ suffering.
“Indeed, Jesus came to have compassion on us,” Gómez noted, explaining that Christ draws near to the suffering, inviting them to bear their cross with love and patience. He echoed Pope Leo XIV’s recent Lenten message, which recalled God’s words to Moses: “I have seen the oppression of my people… and I have heard their cries of pain.”
Navigating Amnesty and the Path to Reconciliation
The bishop also addressed the recent Law on Amnesty and National Reconciliation, which led to the release of hundreds of political prisoners. While acknowledging the law as an expression of “God’s mercy, who desires that all men be saved,” he recognized ongoing concerns. Independent groups like Foro Penal report that hundreds remain unjustly detained, and critics argue the law’s application serves regime interests.
Gómez framed the path forward in spiritual terms: “A wounded country and a wounded human being are healed through forgiveness and reconciliation by setting aside interests of any kind and always seeking paths toward the common good and brotherhood… Therefore, it is important to set aside what divides us and embrace what unites us.”
A Call to Build a Future of Fraternity
Connecting Venezuela’s potential “new era” with the ongoing Franciscan Jubilee Year, the bishop-elect called for “a path of education for peace, one that entails nonviolence and reconciliation.”
He clarified that this journey “is not about forgetting but rather about remembering, repairing the damage, and building bonds of fraternity.” True societal rebuilding, he emphasized, comes not from heroes but from “free, responsible people capable of living together with dignity and building a future worthy of hope.”
Concluding with a prayerful exhortation, Bishop Gómez urged Venezuelans to make their lives “a journey of peace and reconciliation” to rediscover their essence as “a people of solidarity — friendly, humorous, and joyful — with a simple faith and fervent religious expressions, and ready to help anyone in need.”
