"Pope Leo urged respect for Venezuela's sovereignty and voiced his grave concern after the US operation that led to the arrest of President Nicolas Maduro. "The good of the beloved Venezuelan people must prevail above all other considerations and lead to overcoming violence and embarking on paths of justice and peace, guaranteeing the sovereignty of the country [...] with special attention to the poorest who are suffering due to the difficult economic situation," the pontiff said during the Sunday prayer at the Vatican. Pope Leo had previously advocated for de-escalation between the US and Venezuela in December, after Washington ramped up its military presence in the Caribbean as part of its crackdown on narco-trafficking in the region. The United States operation in Venezuela on Saturday included the bombing of several Venezuelan military bases and the capture of Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores. Both were transferred to the United States, where they will be tried in the Southern District of New York on alleged drug trafficking charges, according to United States Attorney General Pamela Bondi. The US attack raised international concern, with Mexico, Brazil, Colombia, Chile, Russia and China, condemning the strikes on Venezuela."