How can you find God amid tragedy? Why does God allow so much suffering? These questions haunt many in Venezuela after the devastating earthquakes of June 24, 2026.
Carlos Márquez, auxiliary bishop of Caracas, reflected on the mystery of suffering in an exclusive interview with ACI Prensa. According to the prelate, the Catholic Church offers crucial light on these existential struggles.
A Promise to Hold Onto: ‘We Are Not Alone’
Márquez called it “an act of tremendous pridefulness” to claim full answers to suffering. He noted that asking ‘why’ often becomes a search for blame, paralyzing us with bitterness.
“We can’t escape biological law; we can’t escape the laws of nature. What was once seen as curse or divine punishment, we now understand as natural processes,” he explained.
He pointed to two key factors. First: human freedom, misused, causing pain—citing collapsed buildings due to poor construction or unsafe locations. “Imprudence, whether culpable or not, always ends in tragedy. This is not caused by God.”
Second, he referenced St. Paul’s Letter to the Romans (8:22-39), where creation “groans” in childbirth. Nature readjusts as part of a process toward fullness in Christ. “On our journey toward living happily forever with Christ, we will encounter pain and suffering.”
Yet the bishop offered hope: “Christ promised not that we would avoid suffering, but that He would not abandon us: ‘I will be with you until the end of the world.’ He walks with us in pain through His Church, the sacraments, and the Word.”
The saints provide example and intercession so we “do not lose heart.” Isolation worsens tragedy, he said.
Christian Hope in the Face of Death
Amid heartbreaking stories on social media, Márquez noted a common thread: hope. Many thank God for being alive, vowing to honor loved ones and find purpose. “Death does not have the final word. God has the final word of life and eternal joy.”
He urged Venezuelans to follow saintly compatriots, avoid asking ‘why,’ and work for a better future.
“Pain is fleeting; death is not final. United in faith, hope, and charity, with eyes fixed on the risen Christ, we walk together to overcome this tragedy. Venezuela is a land of grace; we will rise from the dust,” Márquez declared.
He recalled St. John Paul II’s 1996 visit: “Venezuelans, your resolve must be great. Trust in God: He loves mankind.”
The official death toll from the earthquakes now stands at 4,829, with tens of thousands injured or affected.
This story was first published by ACI Prensa and adapted by EWTN News. For more, visit the original article.
