Bishops in Venezuela on upcoming elections: “The people know the future is in their hands”

Venezuela is preparing for presidential elections in 2024 and legislative elections in 2025, both occurring in a complex political climate. As the vote on July 28th approaches, the Venezuelan bishops wished to “share some reflections about this political act, the deepening of democracy, and the people’s participation in the election.”

“The Venezuelan people have before them a new opportunity to make decisions through a conscientious and free vote that can result in far-reaching reform of democracy, civil society, and quality of life. Full of hope, the Venezuelan people know that the future is in their hands,” the bishops explain in an apostolic exhortation sent to Aid to the Church in Need (ACN). 

Titled “Walking Together in Hope,” the letter was published on July 11th, following the 122nd Ordinary Plenary Assembly of the Venezuelan Bishops Conference.  

“Free, conscious, and responsible participation in these elections is very important to begin to develop a future of hope and to build a country marked by progress, peace, justice, and freedom. Only by defeating abstention and political apathy will we be able to move forward with the reconstruction of the country,” the bishops state.  

Venezuela has faced a deep economic crisis since the mid-2010s, made all the worse by a drop in oil prices, hyperinflation, lack of food and medicine, and a grave internal political crisis. This situation has led to one of the largest migratory movements in Latin America in decades. According to figures from the Observatory of the Venezuelan Diaspora, published in August 2023, the total number of Venezuelan migrants rose to 8.5 million, distributed among 90 countries all over the world, amounting to almost 30 percent of Venezuela’s total population.  

Over the past several months, representatives of the Venezuelan Church in contact with ACN have highlighted the serious drama that migration has brought to the country. This tragedy has cost many lives, especially among those who attempt dangerous routes such as the Darién.  

Church leaders have also stressed the impact that emigration has on Venezuelan family structure. “Many children have been left in the care of relatives, because their parents left in search of better living conditions. Grandparents have gone back to being parents,” one of the sources said. “Furthermore, the rupture in family life has led to an alarming increase in early pregnancy rates and single-parent families, making the social crisis even more dire.”   

According to information sent to ACN, poverty in Venezuela is particularly serious outside of the capital, Caracas, a city described as a bubble, that does not reflect the harsh reality in the rest of the country. In many regions, the scarcity of food is severe; electricity cuts are frequent; and inflation is rampant, with salaries amounting to barely four dollars a month. The prospects for young people are especially worrying, with 95 percent thinking of emigrating. “If there is no change at the government level, we worry that the current migratory wave will morph into an uncontrollable phenomenon. The situation has led to a generalized dilemma: ‘either you resign yourself or you leave,’” said one of the Church leaders during a meeting with ACN.  

“July 28th should be a celebration of democracy, not only in our territory, but in any land where our brother and sister migrants can exercise their right to vote, with the hope of being reunited with their loved ones in a country that opens its doors to development and happiness,” the bishops say in their message. “Nobody should excuse themselves or feel excluded from this democratic experience. We are all called to participate in a number of ways.”  

The bishops conclude with an invitation to pray for peace and call for “the electoral process to take place in an atmosphere of respect.” ACN joins the bishops in their calls for prayer, while requesting that the international community not forget the suffering of the Venezuelan people, or the crisis which has led to the mass exodus.  

“Invoking the Holy Trinity – the source of communion – and the maternal care of Mary of Coromoto – the Patron Saint of Venezuela – we ask that they protect the people of Venezuela in this period of important decisions. May they inspire our minds and our hearts to follow the straightest path over the next years of our country’s democratic life,” the bishops said.