The Archbishop of Caracas thanks Costa Rican solidarity with victims of the earthquakes that struck Venezuela

The Metropolitan Archbishop of Caracas, Monsignor Raúl Biord Castillo, thanked the Church in Costa Rica for its solidarity with the communities affected by the June 24 earthquakes in Venezuela.

Biord thanked the Episcopal Conference of Costa Rica for its donation of $302,702.63 to assist those affected by the earthquakes in Caracas and La Guaira. Given the scale of the emergency, the Church has combined efforts to meet material needs with spiritual support for the affected families.

The archbishop described the earthquakes on June 24 as “very strong” and highlighted the Church’s swift response, which began on the very first day with the collection and distribution of food, medicine, and hygiene supplies.

The earthquake did not spare those on the front lines of pastoral care. Several priests and deacons lost their homes and some family members, even as they continued to accompany rescue workers and families and attend numerous funerals. In response to this situation, the Church created spaces for spiritual and psychological support as part of its “care for the caregivers” program.

The damage also affected parish churches. Forty remain closed due to structural damage, and 26 of them are designated as cultural heritage sites. As recovery efforts continue, communities are holding services in the streets, courtyards, and sports fields. “We must rebuild lives before we rebuild buildings,” Biord said.

The religious leader highlighted one of the most significant responses to the tragedy: the victims helping one another. “We have witnessed powerful testimonies from people who have lost children, parents, and friends, and who have been helping others from the very beginning,” he said.

The tragedy is not only measured in destroyed homes. Many people kept their houses, but lost their jobs due to the impact on the port, the airport, and tourism in La Guaira. Biord warned that this situation is generating hunger and requires new entrepreneurship initiatives and sources of work.

The letter also highlights the Costa Rican nun Isabel Brenes, of the Oblates, a missionary in Venezuela and head of the Santa Rita de Casia parish. There, a community of sisters carries out pastoral ministry in the absence of a priest. “The buildings are damaged, but the mission continues […],” wrote Biord.

Finally, he expressed his gratitude for the solidarity he had received and emphasized that the Costa Rican Church had stepped forward as “Good Samaritans” to stand by those most in need. Despite the emergency, he reaffirmed his commitment to continue proclaiming the Gospel as the “good news of the resurrection.”