Italian Catholic Church launches national fundraiser for Venezuelan earthquake victims

The Catholic Church in Italy is organizing a nationwide collection of aid for the victims of the devastating earthquake that struck Venezuela on 24 June, causing many deaths, injuries and thousands of displaced people. Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, President of the CEI, announced that on 26 July all churches across Italy will hold a special offering, with donations to be funneled through Caritas Italia, which is coordinating directly with Caritas Venezuela.

The appeal has been echoed by multiple dioceses: the Archdiocese of Amalfi‑Cava de’ Tirreni will host a two‑day collection on 18‑19 July; the Dioceses of Verona, Cremona, Ventimiglia‑Sanremo, Massa Carrara‑Pontremoli and others have announced local drives for the same date. The funds will support distribution of drinking water, food, hygiene kits, medical supplies and psychosocial assistance to the most vulnerable, especially displaced families, children and the elderly.

Religious events are also being used to draw attention to the disaster. In Siracusa, the Cathedral will display the statue of Santa Lucia and hold a day of prayer for peace and for populations suffering from wars and earthquakes, linking the local devotion to the Venezuelan tragedy. Cardinal Zuppi emphasized, “It is a concrete way to show solidarity to those who have lost everything,” while Caritas director Marco Pagniello noted the importance of a coordinated response to meet both material and spiritual needs.