A letter reportedly penned by Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores during their imprisonment surfaced over the weekend, in which they reference the Bible and urge for “reconciliation and forgiveness” in Venezuela.
The regime in Venezuela has a long history of manipulating Christian teachings to advance its socialist aims. The letter, which features biblical quotes, was shared on President Maduro’s various social media accounts, including Instagram, Telegram, and TikTok on Saturday, coinciding with the start of Holy Week and the evening before Palm Sunday. Palm Sunday marks Jesus Christ’s entry into Jerusalem.
The letter opens by expressing that Maduro and Flores are profoundly grateful for the support and solidarity shown by both Venezuelans and well-meaning individuals worldwide, emphasizing that they have been inundated with messages and prayers.
“Every word of love, every gesture of affection, every expression of support nourishes our souls and uplifts us spiritually. We remain strong, steady, calm, and continuously in prayer,” the letter states.
“We hold deep respect for the capacity of the Venezuelan people to uphold unity and demonstrate love, conscience, and solidarity during challenging times—both within the country and beyond its borders.” “The love you convey to us transforms into moral strength and a dedication to the highest values of life.”
Over the past three months, a number of individuals have utilized Maduro’s social media to share images chronicling the number of days he and Flores have been held since a U.S. law enforcement operation was initiated on January 3 to arrest him in Caracas. Maduro and Flores have been together for a significant period. The U.S. government has accused him of various drug-trafficking offenses.
Notably, Maduro’s account on social media platform X (formerly Twitter) has also been used in this context. However, Maduro has decided to suspend his use of that account after the controversial presidential election in July 2024.
“Now, more than ever, we call for ongoing efforts to promote peace in our nation, national unity, reconciliation, forgiveness, and togetherness of all,” the letter asserts. “No one should stray from the principles of dialogue, coexistence, and respect. This is the path to our homeland and the route toward goodness.”
“And as our Lord Jesus Christ expressed in the Gospel of St. Luke: ‘Ask, and it shall be given to you; seek, and you shall find; knock, and the door will be opened to you.'” The letter goes on to wish that God’s paths be open to those who persist in truth, peace, and light, seeking with faith, hoping, and knocking with love.
“Thank you wholeheartedly for your messages, letters, prayers, and immense love. Our gratitude, prayers, and spiritual embrace will be with you today, tomorrow, and for always,” concludes the letter.
Maduro’s son, Nicolas Maduro Guerra, also shared a copy of this message on his blog. Instagram Explaining Palm Sunday, he took the chance to advocate for “national unity,” quoting additional biblical texts.
“May our homeland experience peace through national unity, the reunion of all peoples, sincere reconciliation, and justice. May God bless Venezuela and may Christ our Savior accompany us always,” Maduro Guerra remarked.
He has been identified as one of the individuals under suspicion in the ongoing drug trafficking trial against his father. Currently, he is a member of the regime-controlled National Assembly and holds the title of “Vice President for Religious Affairs” of the United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV), acting as a link between his father and a pro-regime religious group.
Nicolas Maduro and Cilia Flores have been detained at Brooklyn’s Metropolitan Detention Center since their arrest on January 3. Just last week, they appeared in court for the first time since their initial arraignment on January 5.
During the proceeding, U.S. District Judge Alvin Hellerstein stated he would not dismiss the charges against Maduro and Flores, refuting the defense team’s argument led by attorneys Barry Pollack and Mark Donnelly to drop the case over a disagreement concerning legal fees. The lawyers contended that U.S. sanctions were hindering the Venezuelan state from covering Maduro’s legal expenses.
