The U.S. military’s overnight operation to capture Nicolás Maduro has sent waves of shock, relief, and uncertainty through Venezuela and its diaspora.
Newsroom (04/01/2026 Gaudium Press ) As dawn broke over Caracas on January 3, the news spread like wildfire: U.S. forces had captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in a surprise overnight operation dubbed Absolute Resolve. For exiled Venezuelans across South Florida, the event sparked scenes of jubilation. But inside Venezuela, the reaction was one of wary silence, as many tried to comprehend what the regime’s abrupt fall might mean for their future.
The operation began late on the night of January 2, when multiple U.S. aircraft launched from sea and land bases near the Venezuelan coast. According to the BBC, strikes hit two military compounds, a port, and an airport before troops breached Caracas’s air defenses. By 1 a.m., they had reached Maduro’s residence, capturing him and First Lady Cilia Flores. A few hours later, both were aboard the USS Iwo Jima, en route to New York City.
When President Donald Trump announced the capture, celebrations erupted across parts of the Venezuelan diaspora. In places like Doral—where nearly 40 percent of residents trace their roots to Venezuela—people flooded the streets, waving flags and chanting “Venezuela libre” (“Free Venezuela”).
“We received the news with much joy and hope,” said Father José Palmar, a Venezuelan priest living in Miami. Yet he tempered that hope with realism. “The head was extirpated, but the body still lives—in government, in city administrations. That body can still create a visible head.”
Palmar believes the immediate challenge lies in organizing a stable transition. “If that happens successfully, at least 30 percent of exiles will return within a year,” he predicted.
Inside Venezuela: Fear and Caution
In cities across Venezuela, crowds did not fill the streets. Instead, many stayed indoors, glued to their radios and televisions. Some Chavista loyalists organized small demonstrations against the U.S. intervention, but most citizens responded with quiet apprehension.
“In middle-class neighborhoods, people are panic buying due to uncertainty about the future,” explained Father Piter Rivas of the Barcelona diocese. “But the poor, the majority of the population, can’t afford that. They’re just at home, waiting.”
Churches throughout the country have adjusted to the tense atmosphere. The Barcelona diocese closed churches to large gatherings, holding small Masses and livestreaming services. “Sunday Masses are only in the morning,” Rivas said. “After noon, we ask everyone to stay home to avoid potential hazards.”
The Venezuelan Episcopal Conference issued a brief but solemn statement urging calm and compassion. “Let us ask God to grant all Venezuelans serenity, wisdom, and strength,” the bishops wrote. “We stand in solidarity with those who were injured and the families of those who passed away.”
Faith, Hope, and the Uncertain Road Ahead
For many believers, the Church has become a moral anchor amid chaos. Brother Giovanni Luisio Mass, head of the Order of the Poor Knights of Christ in Venezuela, said that ordinary Catholics are “united in hope, resistance, and change.” But he warned that the political vacuum could bring new dangers. “Our fear is that opportunistic politicians may seize power,” he told Crux.
In his hometown of El Tigre, calm prevails for now. Luisio Mass, who was previously persecuted by the regime, acknowledged the moment’s fragile optimism. “Any kind of change brings hope,” he said. “We’ve been through many difficulties, with arbitrary arrests and fear.”
Since the operation, he has spent his days speaking with community members and translating official U.S. statements. Still, questions remain. “We didn’t understand why President Trump said opposition leader María Corina Machado wouldn’t be able to assume the government,” he noted.
Like many, Luisio Mass is watching and waiting. “Trump said there might be new strikes. Let’s see if they are really carried out,” he said. “But Chavismo will keep existing as a political force.”
As night falls again over Venezuela, the country stands suspended between hope and caution—its dictator gone, but its destiny far from clear.
- Raju Hasmukh with files from Crux Now
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