Venezuela's Delcy Rodríguez petitions Pope for religious canonizations

Venezuelan Acting President Delcy Rodríguez has formally sent a letter to Pope Leo XIV requesting the canonization of Mother María de San José, the nation's first beatified figure. The administration also expressed support for the beatification process of Monsignor Salvador Montes de Oca, a figure recognized as a Servant of God who was killed by Nazi SS troops in Italy in 1944.

In the correspondence, Rodríguez expressed the Venezuelan people's desire to see Mother María de San José join the ranks of recently canonized figures such as José Gregorio Hernández and Carmen Rendiles. Additionally, the letter extended gratitude to the Vatican and Caritas for their humanitarian assistance following the double earthquake that struck various regions of Venezuela on June 24, 2026.

Separately, the Venezuelan Episcopal Conference (CEV) has commenced its 126th Ordinary Plenary Assembly in Caracas. Led by President Archbishop Jesús González de Zárate, the assembly aims to address pastoral challenges, social realities, and the Church's role in supporting the population amidst political and economic instability. The bishops also discussed the ongoing social and spiritual recovery following recent seismic events.